Examination of Witnesses (Questions 197-199)
4 NOVEMBER 2003
MR ANDY
GILCHRIST, MS
RUTH WINTERS
AND MR
MIKE FORDHAM
Q197 Chairman: Good morning. Could
I ask you to identify yourselves for the record.
Mr Gilchrist: Andy Gilchrist,
General Secretary of the Fire Brigades' Union.
Ms Winters: Ruth Winters, President
of the Fire Brigades' Union.
Mr Fordham: Mike Fordham, Assistant
General Secretary.
Q198 Chairman: Would you like to
make an opening statement, or are you happy for us to go straight
to questions?
Mr Gilchrist: I am happy for you
to go straight to questions, Chairman.
Q199 Mr Betts: Given the perceptions
some people might have of the FBU's stance, which sometimes appeared
to be against change in the Fire Service, some people might be
a bit surprised that in general you seem to have welcomed the
White Paper as the right way forward?
Mr Gilchrist: Yes, it is true
to say, Chairman, that we welcome the "vision" set out
in paragraph 1(6), and then we go on to outline some general concerns
we have about the approach and some of the substance. I obviously
refute that the Fire Brigades' Union is an obstacle to change
in the Fire Service. We have been, rightly and proudly, responsible
for a considerable amount of change. It is no accident you have
got the finest Fire Service in the world here in the United Kingdom.
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