To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many fire and rescue services had taken delivery of information technology infrastructure specifically earmarked for use as part of the FiReControl project by 31 December 2007. (186432)

None. However, as part of the FiReControl project new mobilising equipment will be delivered to around 1,500 fire stations over the next 2.5 years. On receipt of a mobilisation message from a regional control centre, this new equipment will trigger station end components to effect a mobilisation. This includes sounding alarms, triggering retained alerters, switching on lights, opening doors and printing mobilisation messages.

In March this year new mobilising equipment has started to be installed in fire stations in Staffordshire and North Yorkshire. Infrastructure to enable FRA's to prepare data to support the FiReControl system will also start to be fitted in FRA buildings in April.