MSP FIGHTS TO KEEP LOCAL FIRE SERVICES AS THE “KEEP THE OPT OUT” CAMPAIGN IS LAUNCHED
February 13, 2009 12:00 AM
Jim Hume, MSP for the South of Scotland, has today pledged his support to his party's campaign to protect retained fire-fighters in the South of Scotland from the adverse consequences of the Working Time Directive.
Liberal Democrats, are leading the campaign in the House of Commons, the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly to keep the right for key retained fire-fighters all across UK to opt out of the Working Time Directive - which threatens to limit their total weekly working time to 48 hours, including time spent on call.
Jim Hume said:
"The move would impact on life-saving fire and rescue services across the South of Scotland but especially in rural areas where the work of retained fire-fighters allows emergency cover to extend far beyond the level which would otherwise be possible.
"Full-time fire-fighters simply could not be employed across the South of Scotland area with anything like the same coverage - the consequences would be slower response times and ultimately the loss of lives.
"There is still work to be done on how the UK will implement any changes to the Working Time Directive. My Liberal Democrats colleagues and I will be engaging with Ministers both in the department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR) and in the Scottish Government to ensure that implementation will allow the continued operation of a fire service with Retained Fire-fighters at its heart.
"We need to keep the opt out to that the South of Scotland does not lose any part of this vital emergency service."
ENDS
Notes to editors.
1. Mr Hume has written to all Watch Managers at the stations mentioned below.
2. Areas potentially affected are -
Dumfries and Galloway Fire and Rescue Annan Fire Station Castle Douglas Dalbeattie fire station Drummore Auxiliary Unit Gatehouse Fire Station Gretna Kirkcudbright Langholm Lockerbie MoffatNew Galloway Newton Sanquhar Stranraer Thornhill Whithorn
Lothian and Borders Fire Service East Linton, East LothianHaddington, East Lothian
Strathclyde Fire Service: North & South Ayrshire Adrossan (FT&RT) Beith Brodick Colmonell Dalry Dreghorn (FT&RT) Girvan Kilbirnie Kilwinning (FT&RT) Lamlash Largs Maybole Millport Skelmorlie Troon
Strathclyde Fire Service: East Ayrshire & East Renfrewshire Cumnock Dalmellington Mauchline Muirkirk New Cumnock
Strathclyde Fire Service: South Lanarkshire Abington Biggar Carluke Douglas Lanark (FT&RT) Larkhall Lesmahagow
3. If fire stations across the UK were to lose their retained fire-fighters, over 90% of the UK would lose valuable emergency fire cover.
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