Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Barry Gardiner and Penny Mordaunt
Penny Mordaunt
This is about protecting the firefighters whom the hon. Lady—who was in the Department when the changes were made in 2006—is asking to work until the age of 60. This is an improvement on the previous situation. There are two reasons why we have introduced the new measures: first, those older workers should have those protections; secondly, we recognise that the fear of being in that situation may have an impact on recruitment and retention. This scaremongering by the Opposition is shameful, and I would ask them to put the well-being of firefighters ahead of pandering to the militant wing of the Fire Brigades Union.
Barry Gardiner (Brent North) (Lab)
T2. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. Will the Minister confirm that—