Carmichael – “vital for local fire cover that Ministers maintain pressure overworking time directive” (North Tayside Liberal Democrats)

North Tayside Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

Carmichael – “vital for local fire cover that Ministers maintain pressure overworking time directive”

April 23, 2009 10:54 AM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael has welcomed the news that European talks aimed at resolving the current dispute regarding the opt-out of the European Working Time Directive ended with no deal being reached.

Earlier this month EU member states and MEP's met to discuss the removal of the opt-out, however, with no deal being reached, talks effectively collapsed. Mr Carmichael has been campaigning in the UK Parliament on behalf of the retained fire-fighters union of Scotland for a number of months calling upon the government to maintain the opt out which is vital for Orkney and Shetland's local fire cover.Alistair Carmichael MP: Orkney & Shetland

Commenting Mr Carmichael said;

"Whilst I am pleased the opt-out still exists and our local retained fire-fighters can continue to do there job, this issue is still not over. There are further talks to come and it is vital that ministers maintain pressure to ensure that the UK keeps its opt-out from the Working Time Directive.

"The changes proposed by the European Parliament still pose a major threat to the vital service provided by Orkney and Shetland's 27 fire stations which use retained fire-fighters. I will be continuing to call on the UK Government to protect the opt-out which is so vital for our local fire protection."

27 fire stations in Orkney and Shetland use retained fire fighters.

In February 2009 Mr Carmichael secured a House of Commons debate on this matter in which he said;

"The existence of the retained duty system is a historical accident; it is just how the service evolved. If we were to set out today with a blank sheet of paper to design a service to provide fire and rescue services for less densely populated areas of the country and more remote communities, I suspect that we would end up with something that looked pretty much like the retained duty system.

"That is why I take any threat or challenge to that system seriously, as we all should. It is one of the most important services that any community can call on. Its importance is that, looked at in the abstract, the service is designed to meet the needs of the communities that it serves and not necessarily those of the people who provide the service.

Notes:

The Hansard from the full debate can be seen at - http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090211/halltext/90211h0001.htm