To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Hurd) of 26 January 2009, Official Report, column 810W, on Fire Service: contracts, what legal advice her Department sought prior to any advice given to contracting parties in respect of non-inclusion of break clauses in the contracts for regional fire control centres; and if she will make a statement. (254624)

The Department took advice from its own lawyers and from commercial property advisers and solicitors throughout the development of the building leases for regional control centre buildings. The fire and rescue authorities have taken and continue to take their own legal advice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's policy is on the inclusion of break clauses in the contracts for regional control centres; and if she will make a statement. (254729)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Hurd) on 26 January, Official Report, column 108W.