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• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 29 January 2003

: With the recent ricin incident in Wood Green, my understanding is that - I'm not sure about the local authority - but the police commander and the Chair of primary health trust, both had a delay of something like 24 hours after the incident before they were even informed of what was happening. My question is at what point in that was the Fire Service aware?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 29 January 2003

Well, was that 24 hours after it was first announced?

• Question by: Lynne Featherstone
• Meeting date: 29 January 2003

I understand, okay. Because I understood there was a confusion with an intervention from Downing Street. I just want to be assured that there was no confusion over this, because the people in Haringey were obviously anxious when they heard about it. But that was after this confusion had been solved.

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 29 January 2003

I am very reassured by that, Mr Bishop. If the bid is successful in April or May, whenever the Government is going to take the decision now, there will be a procurement process. And this is specialist equipment that takes a significant time. You don't just get them off the shelves in your local B&Q. I wonder if we have any timescale for when we will be fully up to strength.

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 29 January 2003

I am grateful for that Mr Bishop, but I think London is well-served by you and the other senior officers, who are directing these matters, those who are not on strike. As a professional officer, you would prefer the equipment that is subject to this £15 million bid sooner rather than later?