.

I would like to bring to your readers' attention a potentially dangerous situation being forced upon my constituents by the European Parliament.

Across the Humberside Fire and Rescue Service region 338 men and women serve the communities in which they live by being retained firefighters.

The Humberside service is unusual in that it trains and develops its retained firefighters to the same high standards as its wholetime staff so they are equally able at dealing with emergencies.

Now, however, the vital work done by these brave people, who all have full time jobs, could be in jeopardy following a European Parliament vote. It says there should be no exception to the working time directive, which requires employers to make sure that workers do not work more than 48 hours a week, averaged over four months.

In 1993, the Conservative Government secured an opt-out from this directive, with the effect workers in the UK may derogate from the 48 hour limit on the working week.

The effect the changes proposed by the European Parliament would have on the retained duty system could prove devastating.

Already Humberside Fire and Rescue Service has begun drawing up different crewing rotas to lessen the impact of the vote.

A 48-hour maximum working week, including inactive time, would make it impossible for most retained firefighters to supplement their primary occupation in a paid service to their communities.

I believe retained firefighters are a vital asset and an invaluable supplement to the fire service as a whole and should not be forced to choose between their full-time job and serving the community.

Retained firefighters should be allowed to choose when they work, subject to fire service safety guidelines and not be told they cannot do extra hours both to supplement their income and help protect the communities in which they live.