HL Deb 14 January 2004 vol 657 c85WA
Lord Brookman

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many uniformed fire service officers from the Fire Service Inspectorate are currently working in conjunction with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Buildings Division to develop fire safety standards supporting the proposals outlined in the fire service White Paper and with the British Standards Institution and other safety standard bodies to improve fire safety in buildings. [HL689]

The Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Lord Rooker)

Currently, two inspectors from Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate work in conjunction with Buildings Division to develop fire safety standards in buildings.

Lord Brookman

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have following the disbandment of the Fire Safety Advisory Board to establish a forum involving fire service bodies, the Fire Service Inspectorate and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Buildings Division and Fire Policy Division to ensure structured dialogue between those engaged in the design and construction of buildings and those who fight fires in them. [HL690]

Lord Rooker

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister plans to continue, in developing the fire aspects of building regulations policy, the effective involvement of all relevant stakeholders including the fire service bodies and Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate and the relevant divisions of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will seek the advice of the statutory Building Regulations Advisory Committee and consult the recently established Practitioners' Forum and Business and Community Safety Forum for the Fire and Rescue Service.