§ Jackie BallardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he will end the consultation period on the document entitled, "The Future of Fire Service Control Rooms and Communication"; [125721]
(2) if he will list the consultees in relation to the document entitled, "The Future of Fire Service Control Rooms and Communication". [125720]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe management summary of the Fire Service Communications and Control Rooms Study was circulated to the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council immediately prior to its meeting on 16 May 2000. The summary and the full report will be discussed at its meeting on 19 July. The Council is the statutory body appointed under section 29 of the Fire Services Act 1947 to advise the Secretary of State, on fire service matters. Current membership includes the following fire service representative bodies; the Local Government Association, the Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers' Association, the Fire Brigades Union and the Retained Firefighters' Union.
Best Value authorities are required to carry out reviews of all their functions over a period of five years from April 2000. To help fire authorities make the most of opportunities for improved efficiency through greater collaboration, a common timetable has been set in the Local Government (Best Value) Performance Plans and Reviews Order 1999 (SI 1999 No. 3251) in respect of fire authorities for the review of particular functions, including communications and control in year one (2000–01). The aim of the above study is to provide advice for authorities on how best to meet their future mobile communications and control room requirements.
Fire authorities in England and Wales have been invited to consider the findings of the study and to take these into account in conducting the Best Value reviews of their control and communications functions in accordance with SI 1999 No. 3251. The relevant fire service circular (No 8/2000) was issued on 10 May to fire authorities and brigades and to other bodies with an interest in fire service matters. A copy of the circular is in the Library.