The government is preparing to award a contract for its
controversial Firelink project, which will establish regional fire
control centres, by November.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister said the roll-out of new
control centres is expected to begin in 2006 and be completed in
2008.
But it will face opposition from the Fire Brigades Union, which
said the project is complex and could endanger lives.
Jim Fitzpatrick, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the
ODPM, said, "The project will use the digital national radio
solution provided by Firelink as its primary bearer for voice and
data."
He added that Firelink would link to a project to deliver an
integrated, resilient command and control system for the Fire and
Rescue Service in England.
In a statement, the ODPM said, "Firelink is an important
investment in wide area digital radio communications. The system
will bring improved communications, particularly in terms of
interoperability with other emergency services, and help provide a
more resilient service."
But the Fire Brigades Union said creating fewer emergency
control rooms would mean "less resilience and increased
vulnerability".
Union president Ruth Winters said, "The government's track
record on large technology projects is very poor. Its record
suggests this project will be very expensive and may not work.
"Our ability to respond instantly to incidents could be badly
damaged. It will not be benefits or tax credits being delayed, as
happened after other government technology failures; it will be a
frontline 999 service."
The ODPM would not comment on the union's reservations about
Firelink.