THE Defence Fire Service (DFS) at RAF Lyneham faces unacceptable risks through a Government proposal to privatise the service according to North Wiltshire MP James Gray.

Firefighters in the DFS, effectively highly trained non-forces personnel operating as the fire service at armed services bases throughout the country, are also called upon to carry out tasks that civilian firemen would not wish to perform such as dealing with explosive materials.

Mr Gray visited the DFS at RAF Lyneham for a fact-finding mission last Thursday and met with about 30 firefighters to hear their concerns. Four MoD officials from London joined him on the official visit.

The Government has offered to put out to tender the contracts for Airfield Support Services, which include refuelling, engineering work, catering, and the DFS. It has received four bids for the contract, which would cover all air bases in the country and would last for 25 years.

Three of these bids are from private enterprise while another, Fire Study 2000, is a bid tabled by the MoD which currently runs the services.

It is this bid which Mr Gray would like to see succeed. "There are many aspects of this with which I wouldn't have a problem being in the hands of private enterprise, such as catering services and less skilled areas. However, most of it should be in the hands of those properly trained," he said.

"It's not hard to think of many situations where servicemen would happily go, but where contractors may well hesitate. We may even see some examples of that if the civilian firemen's strike goes ahead."

Tom Draper, the press officer for RAF Lyneham, said: "The privatisation proposals are obviously of concern to the staff here. Some may lose their jobs if this were to go ahead but being conscientious people they are more concerned over the lack of cover which may be made available after any cutbacks."

Mr Gray continued, "During 18 years, the Conservative Party privatised a great many things. We left this (the DFS) well alone as we believed privatisation would be the wrong thing to do in this case."

"The Government now faces a difficult time from an unholy alliance between the Conservative Party and a large number of Labour backbench MPs who are also against this."

The Government is currently undertaking a study into whether to privatise, or to reorganise the Airfield Support Services. It is due to announce the outcome in January.

Mr Gray said that a campaign had been launched in Parliament and would continue after the summer recess.

"This is another Treasury-driven proposal for defence cuts and it must not be allowed to happen," he said.