No plan to cover terrorist attack, admit ministers

Ministers were holding emergency discussions last night on how to secure public safety during the fire strikes.

On the eve of the walkout, Downing Street admitted there were still no firm plans in place for dealing with a catastrophe.

John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, met Andy Gilchrist, leader of the Fire Brigades Union, to clarify the safety arrangements. One important issue is whether firefighters will be made available in the event of a terrorist attack

The Prime Minister's spokesman emphasised the meeting with Mr Gilchrist had been called "not to discuss pay but purely to focus on safety". He said the issue was "particularly germane" considering current security fears.

He warned that the armed forces could only provide a "second-best service" in the absence of trained firefighters and added: "I don't think anyone should be under any illusion that by going on strike and withdrawing emergency services you put lives at risk."

Attention is centring on a TUC code of conduct, drawn up in 1979, under which strikers agree to suspend action temporarily during national crises. The Government pointed out that the ambulance service maintained a so-called "blue-light service" during its national dispute 12 years ago.

David Davis, the shadow Deputy Prime Minister, said: "Given that the Fire Brigades Union has admitted that, in the event of a national security incident, firefighters 'will not be able to respond in a co-ordinated fashion', the Government must explain how it plans to protect public safety if such an incident occurred.

"Since the beginning of this crisis, we have been pressing the Government to train military personnel on the use of fire engines.

"They should end their spurious excuses and commence such training immediately, as this strike action may continue until Christmas Eve."

Downing Street's emergencies committee, codenamed Cobra, will start sitting round the clock as soon as the firefighters walk out.

Downing Street said a "huge amount" of contingency planning had taken place on how to cope with a national strike.

All 999 calls will be routed through a military control centre being set up by the Ministry of Defence. Military operators will consult senior fire, ambulance and police officers at a secret location before passing on details to crews at bases. Cobra will constantly monitor the response to emergency calls.