asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has discussed with Northumberland county council the implications for supporting fire cover at RAF Boulmer of the proposal to reduce Alnwick fire station to day manning.

No. In accordance with normal RAF arrangements, RAF Boulmer provides its own fire cover for technical, flying and domestic areas. Arrangements exist for RAF Boulmer's firemen to be re-inforced by Alnwick firemen in an emergency and vice-versa. The CO RAF Boulmer has been in touch informally with the local fire service and has been told that the only change to present arrangements is that in a night emergency at Boulmer Alnwick firemen would be called out from their homes instead of the fire station. No problems are foreseen should this proposed change take place.