Merseyside Fire And Civil Defence Authority Budget For 1995/96

EDM number 668 in 1994-95, proposed by Edward O'Hara on 23/02/1995.

That this House reiterates its concern at the serious problem of underfunding of the Merseyside Fire and Civil Defence Authority; regrets therefore the rejection by the Home Secretary of the call for a public inquiry into the functioning of the Merseyside Fire Brigade under Section 33 of the Fire Services Act 1947; notes with alarm the decision of the authority to set a budget for 1995-96 which is within the cap set by the Secretary of State for the Environment but which, on the professional advice of the Chief Fire Officer, may place the authority in breach of the Fire Services Act 1947; and duly notes that in the event of litigation against the authority arising from its failure to meet its statutory obligations as a result of underfinancing, the Chairman of the Authority has formally recorded his intention to enjoin in any such action by the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Secretary of State for the Environment.

This motion has been signed by a total of 37 MPs.