Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Home Office

Oral Answers to Questions

John Cryer Excerpts
Monday 10th June 2019

(4 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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I do not want to spawn intra-family discord. We have heard a voice from Lewisham, so we have to hear a voice from Leyton; I call John Cryer.

John Cryer Portrait John Cryer (Leyton and Wanstead) (Lab)
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Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Further to Question 7, it is widely known that fire crewing per pump has been cut across the country from five to four, and even from four to three. Although we all know that this is an operational matter, is not the safety of firefighters a ministerial matter as well?

Nick Hurd Portrait Mr Hurd
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The safety of firefighters is of huge interest to Ministers, and it is something that we do keep an eye on, but the hon. Gentleman is right in his fundamental point: these operating decisions are best taken locally. [Interruption.] He makes a face, but we cannot have a Minister sitting here and making judgments on what is right when it comes to allocating resources to risk in Cleveland, Cumbria or anywhere else.