Fire and Rescue Service

HC Deb 29 January 2004 vol 417 c507W

Mr. Hammond

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his regionalisation agenda for the Fire and Rescue Service envisages a single control room for all Fire Brigades in each region. [149360]

Mr. Raynsford

The Government accept the conclusions of the Mott MacDonald report, on the "Future of Fire and Rescue Service Control Rooms in England and Wales", published in December 2003. It believes that control rooms at regional level are appropriate for reasons of governance, resilience and intra-service working. It is seeking the views of the Practitioners' Forum, authorities and the service on the conclusions of the report and the Government's response. Copies of the report are available in the Library of the House.