DIABETES AND THE FIRE SERVICE

Early day motion 1165, tabled 19 March 2007 by Adrian Sanders (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 60 members.

That this House welcomes the launch of the Diabetes and the Fire Service: Survey Report, which investigates recruitment and retention practices with regard to people with diabetes in the Fire Service; notes that since the extension to the Disability Discrimination Act in October 2004 people with diabetes are protected from discrimination in the emergency services; notes that well-controlled diabetes is not a bar to working in hazardous occupations such as the fire service; further notes that individual medical assessment is the best method of ascertaining fitness to work; welcomes the main findings of the report that there is widespread recognition of the need to treat all cases individually; notes with regret that there are still variations in recruitment practice across fire and rescue services; and calls on the Government to promote good practice in order to apply it consistently across the UK.

Signatures by party: Labour 31, Liberal Democrat 16, Conservative 4, DUP 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.