The Conservatives are calling for a full statement from Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott into the ongoing firefighters' dispute.

At the end of last week, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said it was suspending two 48 hour strikes planned for this week following talks with Mr Prescott.

But it said other walkouts planned for later in the month and in December would still go ahead if no agreement was reached on their demand for a 40% pay rise.

Conservative MP David Davis, Mr Prescott's opposition shadow, believes a number of details are still to be explained.

He says the issue of public safety, should the strike threat return, has been left hanging in the air.

There is still a case, Mr Davis believes, to start training army personnel on the 40 to 60 fire engines which are said to be at the fire service's national training centre.

The Tories also want the government to explain who will bear the brunt of any pay deal over and above the previous offer of 4%.

Further progress

The FBU is seeking a 40% pay rise to take an experienced firefighter's pay to �30,000, and will hold further talks with the local authority employers on Wednesday and Thursday.

They have only offered 4%, saying any improved offer will have to be paid for by the government, a prospect that now seems more likely.

Military "Green Goddess" fire engines are primed for action

Local authority spokesman John Ransford said: "We are obviously very pleased they have called off next week's strikes which we always said were unnecessary.

"Our position remains the same - further progress on pay and modernisation must go hand in hand."

"I hope that this can now lead to a final settlement of the dispute," said Mr Prescott.

The employers will meet on Monday before holding the fresh talks with union officials.

FBU officials spent all of Saturday in closed meetings before making the decision to suspend the first strikes.

Strike dates

6-14 November 22-30 November 4-12 December 16-24 December All start and end at 0900 GMT

The FBU warned that if no progress was made strikes planned from 6 November onwards would go ahead.

The first 48-hour strikes had been due to take place from Tuesday until Thursday, and from next Saturday until the following Monday.

In the event of industrial action, the Army - backed by the Royal Navy and RAF - is on standby to provide cover with 827 Green Goddess fire engines.

They will be joined by 4,000 part-time firefighters with the Retained Firefighters Union (RFU), who have condemned the FBU's action.