Carmichael - Local communities must not be put at risk as a result of unintended consequences (Aberdeen South & North Kincardine Liberal Democrats)

Aberdeen South & North Kincardine Liberal Democrats <info@aberdeensouthlibdems.org.uk>

Carmichael - Local communities must not be put at risk as a result of unintended consequences

January 23, 2009 12:01 AM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael has warned the UK Government that unintended consequences of the Working Time Directive and the scrapping of Britain's opt out will threaten communities across Scotland due to the directives implications upon retained fire-fighters.

Should stations using retained fire fighters prove unviable due to the

Working Time Depreciative, 91% of UK land mass will lose valuable

emergency fire cover, the only alternative being an increase in whole time personnel at massive expense to the public purse.

Alistair Carmichael MPSpeaking during Business Questions in the House of Commons, Mr Carmichael said:

"Can we have a debate on the impact on of the ending of the UK opt out on the working time directive on retained fire-fighters. In Scotland some 321 of 391 fire stations are staffed by these part-time retained

fire-fighters. A strict application of the directive will mean that they may often be left unable to provide the necessary cover and the stark fact is that in many of our remoter communities we simply don't have the critical mass of population that is required to maintain a full time service. Surely it is wrong that the law of unintended consequences should be allowed to leave some communities without effective fire cover in this way."

Leader of the House, Ms Harriet Harman MP replied:

"I think the Hon. Member raises a point which is quite a detailed and

complex point whilst actually being about a very simple and important

proposition which is adequate fire cover at all times for all communities including isolated rural communities. Perhaps what I can do is raise this with my Rt. Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business and ask him to write to the Hon Gentleman to see whether he can allay some of his concerns."

Commenting after his exchange in the House of Commons chamber Mr Carmichael said:

"There is still work to be done in how they UK will implement the working time directive. My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I shall be engaging with Ministers both in the department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR) and in the Scottish Government to ensure that an implementation program is devised which will allow the continued operation of a fire service relying on retained Firefighters."