asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the increase in the number of employees of fire authorities in each of the past four years.

The returns made to the Home Office by fire authorities in England and Wales of the strengths of their brigades on 31 December each year show the following changes: in 1975, an increase of 2,098; in 1976, an increase of 404; in 1977, a decrease of 446; and in 1978, an increase of 1,441. These figures include whole-time and part-time members of brigades and control room staff, but not civilian employees.