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A COALITION adviser was paid more than £50,000 for less than six months’ work on “cost reduction” across Britain’s Fire Services, it was revealed yesterday.
Sir Ken Knight collected £53,635 last year while carrying out his cost-cutting review for the Department for Communities and Local Government — a document that drew union accusations of providing “cover” for Con-Dem cuts to emergency services’ budgets.
But the latest admission by Tory Fire Minister Brandon Lewis’ office could fan the flames still further, with department officials previously confirming that Mr Knight’s work consumed a total of 119.5 days under a zero-hours contract.
The former fire commissioner for London’s payout works out to roughly four times an ordinary fire fighter’s average earnings in the same period.
The DCLG had previously rejected reporters’ requests under the Freedom of Information Act, insisting that Mr Knight’s paycheque amounted to personal data.
But Mr Lewis offered up the remuneration details yesterday in written questions after grilling from Labour MP Mary Glindon, adding that his salary was “in line with his previous salary rate when he was chief fire and rescue adviser.”
Mr Kight’s review found fire services spend according to the budget they are given rather than the risks they have to manage, and suggested nearly £200 million could be saved or reinvested.
But the Fire Brigades Union ridiculed the report, branding it a “fig leaf” for pursuing ideological funding cuts.