[Hywel Williams in the Chair] — Retained Firefighters

Part of the debate – in Westminster Hall at 10:25 am on 11 February 2009.

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Photo of Russell Brown Russell Brown Labour, Dumfries and Galloway 10:25, 11 February 2009

I shall make only a brief contribution. I congratulate Mr. Carmichael on securing this debate, which has shown that the issue is not straightforward. My hon. Friend Mr. Dismore outlined the complexities of the working time directive and its impacts.

Unlike other hon. Members, I have not been contacted by any of the councillors from the local administration in Dumfries and Galloway council, but perhaps that says more about my relationship with the Conservative-Scottish National party Administration than anything else. However, I have been asked why the working time directive is an issue. In the view of some people, there is no difference between a retained firefighter who works in a daily job and is called out on fire and rescue duties, and a whole-time firefighter who does a second job. I have tried to explain to people that the issue is just not that simple. We have to deal with the complexity of the working time directive.

I merely want to put on record the fact that the significance of retained firefighters to the Dumfries and Galloway region—not just my constituency—is there for all to see. There are 17 fire stations: one whole-time, 15 retained, and one auxiliary firefighting crew in the village of Drummore. More than 200 uniformed staff are based at the retained stations. As someone who was the chairman of the Dumfries and Galloway regional council public protection committee between 1990 and 1994, I very much value the job that those people do in our constituencies. I agree with my hon. Friend Mr. Drew about those who employ retained firefighters, because the system would collapse if they were unable to release staff.