Firemen

Mr. Stainton
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the numerical strength of the retained or part-time firemen as a percentage of each of the total firefighting personnel in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge and Essex, respectively.

Mr. Merlyn Rees
The number of retained firemen as a percentage of the total operational strengths of the fire brigades as at 31st December 1976 was: -----------------------
|Norfolk  |60 per cent|
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|Suffolk  |67 per cent|
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|Cambridge|60 per cent|
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|Essex    |39 per cent|
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Mr. Radice
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the recent report of the inquiry into the feasibility of introducing a shorter working week for the Fire Service.

Mr. Merlyn Rees
I have arranged for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library of the House.