Are you aware of what a "retained" fireman is?

Many brigades have been closing permanently-manned stations and relying more on retained firefighters. As always, the devil will be in the detail. It would be interesting to see the incidence of shouts at the steelworks, compared to outside calls on the brigade's services. I also wonder if a study has been undertaken of the possible effect on reaction times to non-steelworks call-outs, service from the steelworks base.

On a separate but not unrelated note, sad to read of the death of [url=http://jonrogers1963.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/mick-shaw-rip-unsung-working-class-hero.htmlMick Shaw[/url ex-President of the FBU

It's got its good points and its bad points.

The deal is entirely good if, and only if, you know where to draw the line. Tata's money will no doubt come in very handy in getting the country's debt pile under control.

However, you cannot fall into the trap of the piper's paymaster calling all the tunes when it comes down to the ENTIRE fire service. I think you would have to be pretty unreasonable to think that would happen, though. I'm sure NO government would allow themselves to be exposed to allegations of skimping on safety just to please Tata.

This government has already declared an attack on health and safety – even though it's also stated that there is no problem with the rules as they exist now, only with some people's interpretation of them.

There's also the added cost, let alone management layer (I thought this lot were in the market of removing bureaucracy?) of commercial experts who are better equipped to handle contract negotiations, tendering etc. The emergency services already employ press officers or contract the services of PR experts. Looks like this could lead to some nice little earners for some

That's to create demand in the privatised health sector. It's joined up thinking.