• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

Thank you. I think you have just demonstrated the point, actually. You've given a reasonably full answer on tourism, which is something we should have had before. If it wasn't Functional Bodies Question Time today, would we have had that information? The point about this whole debate, and I think you're getting it cross-party actually, is the feeling that you stick out like a sore thumb in your attitude towards openness and accountability, not just to the public. I would like these meetings all to be public and I would like all the information. What you've said today should have...

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

• Question by: Louise Bloom
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

I wanted to pick up on the working practices matters that have already been raised and make two points really, the first of which is I think that maybe some people don't actually realise how tied in we are to the national agreements on these workings practices. Do you feel that the Fire Executive at the LGA is the best way to pursue some of the frankly dodgy practices that are around? Are other fire authorities making similar moves through the LGA, perhaps you could tell us? It amazes me how the fire service has this down the line division...

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

Going back to Dr Alan Whitehead, it was the government's intention to encourage greater diversity in the workforce but I was wondering what steps LFEPA had taken to increase the number of female firefighters, which currently is 1%.

• Question by: Elizabeth Howlett
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

I wanted to get this question in earlier but, in fact, the Schools Liaison Team is very apt. We run a junior citizens scheme in Wandsworth and all members from public services come to this and work out scenarios and play out scenarios with the pupils, mainly junior pupils, and I'd like to say how wonderful it is to have the fire service. They're a great body of men and they are the toughest at challenging the children over fire-raising and over how, in fact, they should behave in a fire. Much more so even than the Police. That wasn't...

• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

I think it's very encouraging that you have that vision, as it were, for firefighters for the future. But perhaps if I can just ask a question, which is to do with what has happened so far. What restrictive practices do you think have been changed over the past year while you've been in office?

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

Does that mean that you're determined to take them on?

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

I'm pleased to hear that, Val. I think everyone would support that. I just wonder how you will be encouraging the Fire Brigade Union to support the root and branch change and the programme that you have outlined. To use the words of the Minister as far as the Fire Brigade Union is concerned - he talks about local government, he wants to strengthen it and not emasculate it. Have you got any plans for emasculating the Fire Brigade Union?

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 10 October 2001

Wouldn't you agree that this was a speech which could have been made to practically any group of local government officers? It said practically nothing really directly related to the fire service. In fact it was full of completely barmy New-Labourish phrases like, "Local government is a freestanding and important tier of government. We want to strengthen it not emasculate it" and, "Incentivising and empowering local government to lead their communities". Not really a lot to do with fire at all. And then he says, when he does actually mention the fire service, he says he's not interested in "radical...