Government will terminate a contract between the Department of Airport Operations and Canadian contractor Serco when it amalgamates the Island?s three Fire Services.

Taxpayers were expected to save money from a proposed amalgamation of the three Fire Services, Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Randy Horton (pictured) said in the House of Assembly on Friday, but he conceded the total costs were not yet known as a feasibility study had not yet been completed.

?It is anticipated that there will be overall savings,? Mr. Horton said.

Government announced in the Throne Speech that the Bermuda Fire Service, the Bermuda International Airport Fire Service and the St. George?s Fire Brigade would evolve into a new Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service.

The Minister also said the Clearwater Fire Station would be amalgamated with Serco?s current fire station.

Mr. Horton answered the questions asked by Deputy Opposition Leader Michael Dunkley.

Mr. Dunkley also asked what the current staffing was at Bermuda?s Fire Services and whether it would change after the merger. However, Mr. Horton again said he did not know, but was certain there would not be any redundancies.

The Bermuda Fire Service had 120 full-time workers, Serco had 20 full-time workers while St. George?s Fire Brigade had one full-time and 50 volunteers.

Mr. Dunkley also asked the total number of 911 calls that required an ambulance to be dispatched from King Edward VII Memorial Hospital per parish from September to November 2005.

Central parishes required the most ambulances in three months with 566 dispatches. Western parishes required 301 ambulances and eastern parishes required 243. Only 72 were needed in eastern parishes in November compared to 232 in central parishes in October, Mr. Horton said.