Clause 36 - Prohibition on employment of police
Fire and Rescue Services Bill
10:15 am
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge, Conservative)
Of course, it would depend on the role; fire and rescue authorities would have to be careful about that. However, a significant number of fire and rescue authority employees do not perform duties that would give any cause for conflict. I am mindful of the need for police employment regulations to prevent the sort of situation about which the hon. Gentleman speculates, but that can be done by police employment codes and regulations. It is not necessary to write a total prohibition into the Bill.
If I had a little more time, I am sure that I could think of examples of things that police officers might want to do that it would be absurd to ban them from doing because of the notion that their doing them would bring into danger the whole emergency service structure. I hope to persuade the Minister outside the confines of the Committee. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Clause 36 ordered to stand part of the Bill.