• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 29 January 2003

Will you continue to try and push for a negotiated settlement?

• Question by: Elizabeth Howlett
• Meeting date: 29 January 2003

Thank you very much indeed. Can I ask both you, Valerie, and Mr Bishop a question in two parts? First of all, Valerie, have you publicly criticised the fire union for going out on these strikes during this period, when everybody knows the Metropolitan Police is on the highest alert in London that it has ever been? And Mr Bishop, have you had further discussions with the other public services, emergency services, in the event, God forbid, that in fact there should be some kind of terrorist incident on a day when the Fire Service is actually on strike? What...

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 29 January 2003

I understand, okay. Because I understood there was a confusion with an intervention from Downing Street. I just want to be assured that there was no confusion over this, because the people in Haringey were obviously anxious when they heard about it. But that was after this confusion had been solved.

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 29 January 2003

Well, was that 24 hours after it was first announced?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 29 January 2003

: With the recent ricin incident in Wood Green, my understanding is that - I'm not sure about the local authority - but the police commander and the Chair of primary health trust, both had a delay of something like 24 hours after the incident before they were even informed of what was happening. My question is at what point in that was the Fire Service aware?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 29 January 2003

Obviously this is quite difficult to discuss here, if you haven't got the information in front of you, but my understanding is that there was a serious delay, and, therefore, a confusion around the co-ordination. You have stated you think it is excellent. I would say that given that is my understanding, it was not excellent on that occasion. And I want your assurance that firstly I will get the answers, and secondly that I will be informed of what exactly did happen, and thirdly, that if it is as I say it is, that something will be done about...

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 29 January 2003

The final point is the wider political point in terms of who basically runs fire and emergency services. Yesterday we saw the Government intervene essentially to try and nationalise the pay and conditions on the employment side of the situation. It really is time for the Government either to give us the tools at a regional level, to get the job down, and we've shown we can do it well, or to take responsibility. But this continuing muddle, where they intervene and they block and they don't provide the funding, and as I say, we're 18 months nearly since the...

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 29 January 2003

But where is the equipment?

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 29 January 2003

The country can move a quarter of the British Army halfway round the world to deal with a potential threat there. It can't, it seems, get some couple of hundred gas tight suits and some extra fire rescue units into its capital city. It is quite extraordinary. Can you tell me a little bit about the Radio Communications project, where, as I understand it, we were well down the road to having a regional solution? Post 9/11 the view was taken that we need to have an integrated national set up. That was looked at, announcements were made, press announcements...

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 29 January 2003

It is deplorable that we're still waiting. We're almost 18 months since the 9/11 events. It is frankly a disgrace that nationally there is a lack of progress. And it contrasts very sharply, I think, with what we've been able to do in London through the London Resilience Forum, which I know you sit on, and all the sub-committees at a regional level, all the indications are we're getting our act together. It's, therefore, even more inexplicable as to why the Government -- and I honestly hoped you'd be able to shed some light. We dealt with the money yesterday...