§ Lord Howie of Troonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What effect on the work of the Arson Control Forum will arise as a result of the recent transfer of responsibility for the fire authorities to the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. [HL634]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThe Government are fully committed to tackling arson effectively as part of its Safer Communities programme. They have invested LIE million in the current financial year in locally based arson control programmes and have set specific targets for a reduction in the incidence of arson. The machinery of government changes mean that the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions will now be responsible for the fire service delivery agreement to reduce the number of deliberate fires by 30 per cent by 31 March 2009. The department will also be responsible for bidding for resources for arson control in future public spending reviews.
The machinery of government changes will bring together responsibilities in the same department for fire safety and the fire service, housing, urban regeneration, neighbourhood renewal, planning and health and safety, all of which contribute to the drive against arson in its many forms. The forum is a partnership of the various agencies involved in arson control both within and outside the department. This partnership remains in place.