HC Deb 13 February 2004 vol 418 cc25-6W
Gregory Barker

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he made of the cost to East Sussex Fire Authority of becoming a precepting authority. [154551]

Mr. Raynsford

The Government are carefully considering responses to the consultation on alternative notional amounts for Combined Fire Authorities, including that received from East Sussex Fire Authority.

Gregory Barker

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether, under his plans for modernisation of the Fire Service, smaller fire authorities will have less scope to make savings than larger fire authorities. [154553]

Mr. Raynsford

The Independent Review of the Fire Service predicted that the metropolitan brigades would gain the biggest savings. However, it may be too simplistic to compare larger versus smaller authorities. That, and the profound changes to the fire and rescue service announced in the White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" is why the Government recognises that revisiting the fire formula spending share formula could be an issue. A working group of officials has been set up to examine the case for change and possible alternatives. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will consider any proposals for changes to the formula in the light of the working group's conclusions.

Gregory Barker

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to introduce a mechanism to redistribute grant to those smaller fire authorities that may have less scope to make savings under the Fire Service Modernisation agenda than larger fire authorities. [154554]

Mr. Raynsford

The Government recognises that revisiting the fire formula spending share formula could be an issue, given the profound changes to the fire and rescue service announced in the White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service". A working group of officials has been set up to examine the case for change and possible alternatives. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will consider any proposals for changes to the formula in the light of the working group's conclusions.

Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he takes to ensure that the staff in fire service control rooms in Coventry have adequate levels of local knowledge. [155442]

Mr. Raynsford

There are no fire control rooms in Coventry.