Fire Service College (Hansard, 22 May 2002)

§ Mr. Clifton-Brown
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in relation to the fire service college, Moreton-in-Marsh, how many orders of over £1 million have been(a) won and (b) lost in the last three months; and on what date his Department took over responsibility from the Home Department. [57222]

§ Dr. Whitehead
During the last three months the FSC has neither won nor lost any orders whose value exceeded £1 million. The last order that the FSC received whose value exceeded £1 million was in January 2002. The largest order that the FSC has received in the last three months is valued at £0.85 million.
The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions assumed responsibility for fire matters, including the fire service college in June 2001.

§ Mr. Clifton-Brown
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the status is of the review of the framework document on the fire service college, Moreton-in-Marsh; in drawing up financial targets for 2002–03, by how much in(a) number and (b) income he expects (i) domestic and (ii) foreign courses to change compared with 2001–02; and when he expects the 2001–02 reports to be presented to Parliament. [57224]

§ Dr. Whitehead
The review of the framework document for the fire service college will be an important undertaking for the task group announced in my written answer of today's date to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, South (Helen Southworth).
Information on number and income of domestic and foreign courses is not held at the fire service college in the form requested. Therefore, such information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The college expresses its targets in financial terms. The financial targets for 2002–03 as set out in the FSC business plan provide for a minimum increase in turnover over 2001–02 in the region of £1 million.
The FSC expects to present its 2001–02 annual report and accounts to Parliament in July 2002.

§ Mr. Clifton-Brown
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the studies and investigations, including audit investigations, instigated and commissioned by his Department on the fire service college, Moreton-in-Marsh; on what date they began; when each is due to report to his Department; if he will publish them; if he will make a statement on the areas in which he expects action to be taken as a result of these reports: and what plans there are to commission further reports. [57223]

§ Dr. Whitehead
DTLR have been conducting a review of financial regularity and propriety following the suspension of the Chief Executive on 31 January 2002. As there are a number of matters outstanding it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.
Following the suspension and subsequent resignation of the college's Facilities Manager, the Department commissioned a surveyors' review of value for money and probity in the procurement of estates works. The review started on 8 March 2002. A completion date has not been set. There are no plans for publication.
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The only other study set up by the Department which directly concerns the fire service college is the establishment of a task group to review the future direction and funding of the college. The aim of the group is to ensure that the college is in a secure position to undertake its valuable work in the future and its terms of reference can be found in my written answer of today to my hon. Friend, the hon. Member for Warrington, South (Helen Southworth). The task group, which is to report to Ministers in September, has been drawn from bodies representing fire service stakeholders and customers.
The Department has no plans at present for any further studies or reports.

§ Helen Southworth
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to review the future direction and funding of the fire service college; and if he will make a statement. [59160]

§ Dr. Whitehead
I am today announcing the formation of a task group to report in September on short-term action to meet the current training requirements of the fire service and to make longer term recommendations.
The fire service college has a well deserved reputation as a centre of excellence in providing national training for Britain's firefighters. But we need to ensure that the college is in a secure position to undertake this role for the future. We are therefore asking the task group to:

(1) prepare a statement setting out the mission, functions, aims and objectives for the college as the primary training provider within a fire service development strategy.

(2) consider appropriate involvement of customer and stakeholder interests.

(3) recommend a preferred solution for future funding of the college; and

(4) In the light of (1), (2) and (3) review the framework of financial planning and control, the relationship with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and accountability to Ministers and to Parliament.

Membership of the task group has been drawn from bodies representing stakeholders and customers.