MP reinforces for retained firefighters
April 9, 2009 4:30 PM
Gordon Liberal Democrat MP, Malcolm Bruce, has backed up the case for retained fire-fighters to be exempt from the European Parliament's proposed opt out from the Working Time Directive.
Bruce says the "news will come as a relief to fire stations in Aberdeenshire".
"If no change is made to the directive it could more than double the costs of providing fire cover in the North East, increase average response times by between 33 and 50 per cent and damage the rural economy," said Mr Bruce.
He was speaking after a meeting with Grampian's chief fire officer, Mr David Dalziel, and before a series of planned visits to rural fire stations.
"The regulations would seriously restrict the ability of the fire service to operate using retained fire-fighters who may not have enough hours left available after completing their full time jobs. The legal advice is that there would not be an exemption for the directive for normal fire service responses only for major catastrophes.
"The cost of replacing retained fire officers with full time fire-fighters would be ten times the present cost per individual according to CITFA. In Grampian this would double the annual running costs from £30 to £60 million. 33 fire stations in rural areas would be closed and four new ones would need to be built. This would be a hugely expensive and unnecessary undertaking as the present system is tried and tested and works well.
"Over the next few weeks, there will either be an agreement that will allow the system to continue, no agreement which will keep the status quo until the newly elected European Parliament returns to the issue or confirmation of the opt out which will have the far-reaching consequences I have outlined.
"The Government is supporting the case for the service and I am writing to Peter Mandelson to reinforce the need for determined resolve by UK ministers."
-ENDS-
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