LONDON FIRE SERVICE

That this House views with concern the serious shortfall of ú9 million between the local authority finance settlement for 1996-97 and what the Chief Fire Officer and the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority consider to be necessary to mai ntain current levels of service; agrees with the former Chief Fire Officer that the service has already been cut to the bone and that there is no more room for cuts; consequently believes that cuts of ú25 million over the next three years will endanger lives in London and that the possible closure of four fire stations and a further 22 engines across London is to be resisted; and calls on the Secretary of State for the Environment to redetermine the standing spending assessment for the fire service in London so that Londoners can remain confident in a fire service of the highest quality.