Bruce presses Government for Grampian retained firefighters flexibility
February 11, 2009 5:00 PM
Gordon MP voices concern in parliamentary debate over unintended consequences of European Working Time Directive.
Bruce urges the Government to take urgent steps to ensure that retained fire-fighters are able to provide vital cover across Scotland.
Speaking in a debate in Westminster on the possible impact of the European Union's Working Time Directive on retained fire-fighters, which may affect the ability of retained fire-fighters to opt out of the current maximum 48-hour working week, Malcolm Bruce, MP for Gordon, pressed the case for maintaining as much flexibility as possible in the fire service provision for the North East.
During this morning's debate, which was secured by the Liberal Democrat Shadow Scotland Secretary, Alistair Carmichael MP, Mr Bruce said:
"The United Kingdom has developed a system that serves communities well and we need the best mechanism to ensure that system continues."
"Immediately after the vote Cllr Mike Raeburn who chairs the Fire Service in Grampian contacted me, and other MPs and MSPs, to say that if this goes ahead it is likely to cost that one fire service £35-100 million to implement & the second point is that response times will be increased.
"So we have a massive increase in costs for a reduced service and that is simply not an acceptable solution. "
Speaking after the debate, Mr Bruce said:
"The Government could - and should - be taking urgent steps to ensure that retained fire-fighters are able to provide vital cover across Scotland. Many of our smaller communities in Scotland do not have the size of population needed to maintain full-time services. Indeed, a huge 321 of 391 fire stations in Scotland are staffed by part-time retained fire-fighters.
"This debate is not directly about whether or not we should end the UK's opt-out from the Working Time Directive, I and my colleagues support continued opt-out nevertheless, the debate is about the UK Government planning now to ensure that any changes are implemented in such a way as to enable retained fire-fighters to continue to provide their valuable service to our local communities."
ENDS
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