§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has for a fire and rescue service headquarters and control centre for the eastern region. [152262]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Government have no plans for a fire and rescue service headquarters for the eastern region. Each existing Fire and Rescue Authority in the eastern region is responsible for its own headquarters arrangements. On control rooms the Government have said they accept the conclusions of 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 739W 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.