John Prescott has urged fire fighters not to hold further strikes while British troops remain engaged in Iraq.

The deputy prime minister has said that by the end of this month just 9000 soldiers will be available to cover any industrial action, down from the 19,000 personnel deployed to cover last year's strikes.

This would result in "significantly reduced" coverage and longer response times across the country, MPs were told.

"I therefore call on the FBU to make it absolutely clear there will be no more strike action while our armed forces continue to be engaged in Iraq."

Prescott also said that new equipment available for use in the event of a chemical, nuclear or biological terrorist attack was being left unused by fire fighters.

Stepping up the pressure on the Fire Brigades Union, he pledged to ensure public protection "by whatever means necessary".

"It is unacceptable to both the government and the people of this country for this equipment to lie idle.

"If the FBU will not cooperate the government will take action to provide this protection against terrorist attack by whatever means necessary."

During the second reading debate of the Fire Services Bill, Prescott said that the legislation was necessary "in the public interest and to protect public safety".

The proposed law would give Prescott powers to set pay and conditions in England and Wales and direct fire authorities on the use and disposal of their facilities.

He said it was "a bill I would have preferred not to introduce" but confirmed that protracted negotiations had failed to produce an agreement.

Three pay offers and two months of talks at ACAS have failed to produce agreement between the FBU and fire service employers.

"We are therefore back to where we were last May," Prescott said, adding that any pay rise should be funded by reform of working practices.

The deputy prime minister said that the new powers would only be used "if no agreement is reached" in current negotiations.

He said there was "still a lot of room for manoeuvre and agreement".

Ahead of the Commons debate, Downing Street had warned fire fighters they have a last chance to reach a deal with employers.

"I don't think the FBU can credibly claim that it has any public support," added the official spokesman.

Meanwhile, the TUC warned John Prescott not to end the dispute by seeking to impose a settlement.

General secretary-elect Brendan Barber said there was no "short cut" to preventing further strikes.

On Wednesday the TUC released the text of a letter to Prescott in which he expressed "very strong concern" over the bill.

"I understand that the failure of the parties so far to find a resolution to the current, long-running dispute inevitably leads to frustration to all involved. But I am firmly convinced that there is no short cut through imposition," Barber wrote.

"Real modernisation will only be delivered if the support of fire service workers is secured through a negotiated settlement.

"I know that at critical points in this dispute you have made strenuous personal efforts to assist in finding a resolution and I strongly urge you again now to use all your best endeavours to promote such a settlement rather than pursuing this damaging and unhelpful statutory intervention."