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Firefighters' dispute - 20 January 2003

Mr. David Curry (Skipton and Ripon): Will the right hon. Gentleman help me to understand the Prime Minister's comment in Prime Minister's questions last week that

"the decision whether to seek an injunction is taken by the Attorney-General, on the basis of whether such an injunction would succeed or not. It is a decision for him, and not one that I can or should take."—[Official Report, 15 January 2003; Vol. 397, c. 680.]

Does that mean that the decision whether or not to seek an injunction will be based on public safety or the likelihood of success? At a time when the Prime Minister is sending our armed forces abroad, possibly to fight a war, are we to believe that the Prime Minister will play no part in deciding whether to seek an injunction to halt the firefighters' strike?

The Deputy Prime Minister: The Prime Minister has made a number of comments and does not solely rest his case on the Attorney-General and whether or not an injunction might succeed. However, the right hon. Gentleman may agree that the Attorney-General might take that matter into account. He must take into account the threat to public safety and order—which he does by making an assessment of the situation, talking to the Ministers involved, then making a judgment. The Prime Minister made clear that that matter is for the Attorney-General's judgment—not for him or Ministers.

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David Curry MP | House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA | tel: 020 7219 6202