Fire Service Mr. Michael Brown asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firemen are employed full-time in the United Kingdom; how many are volunteers; and how many are part-time. Mr. Mayhew In local authority fire brigades in England and Wales the number of operational firemen at 31 December 1981 was 34,079 full-time, 14,230 part-time and 116 volunteers. Mr. Michael Brown asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost of providing fire services in the United Kingdom for the last year for which figures are available. Mr. Mayhew My right hon. Friend's fire service responsibilities are limited to England and Wales, where the costs of fire authorities in 1980–81, the latest financial year for which outturn figures are available, were £453·5 million.