§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Buckinghamshire he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149567]
§ Mr. FlookTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Somerset he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149276]
§ Mr. GrayTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Wiltshire he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149283]
§ Mr. HammondTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what research relating to Surrey he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service; [149354]
(2) what research has led him to the conclusion that the optimum suprabrigade structure for the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service is one based on the existing Government Office South East Region. [149359]
§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Essex he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149291]
§ Mr. SymsTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Dorset he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149458]
§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Cambridgeshire he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149389]
§ Mr. WilshireTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Surrey he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149394]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Government have no plans at present to regionalise the Fire and Rescue service in the constituencies of the hon. Members. Their local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be responsible for the service. The White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808) made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service, but no referendum is currently planned for any region other than the North East, the North West and Yorkshire and Humberside. All local Fire and Rescue Authorities are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, Regional1454W Management. Boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level.
The Government's conclusions about the benefits of a regional approach to the delivery of services are set out in the White Paper, and are informed by a number of reviews of the service, culminating in the report of the Independent Review of the Fire Service published in December 2002. These reports are listed in the White Paper.
Since then, further reports have been published which indicate the benefits of a regional approach. The Mott MacDonald report on the "Future of Fire and Rescue Service Control Rooms in England and Wales", published in December 2003, concluded that the optimum solution to secure efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of fire and rescue service control rooms would be nine control rooms in England matched to the areas of the Government Offices for the Regions. The Government broadly accepts the conclusions of Mott MacDonald report, and is consulting on implementation. Copies of the report and a related one by Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate are available in the Library of the House.
A recent report by Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate also concluded that local purchasing arrangements based on individual preferences are not the most efficient means of obtaining goods, services and equipment. A copy of this report is available in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. John BercowTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what discussions he has had with the Thames Valley Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149566]
(2) what community consultation he has held in Buckinghamshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149568]
(3) what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Buckinghamshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was; [149569]
(4) what discussions he has had with Buckinghamshire county council on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service in Buckinghamshire; [149571]
(5) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Buckinghamshire's Fire and Rescue Service. [149573]
§ Mr. FlookTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Somerset Fire Service; [149270]
(2) what discussions he has had with Somerset county council on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149272]
(3) what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Somerset on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was; [149274]
(4) what community consultation he has held in Somerset on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service [149275]
1455W(5) what discussions he has had with the Avon and Somerset Police Authority on plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149277]
§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what discussions he has had with(a) Kent county council and (b) the Kent Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149300]
(2) what community consultation he has held in Kent on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149301]
§ Mr. GrayTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what community consultations he has held in Wiltshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149284]
(2) what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Wiltshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was; [149285]
(3) what discussions he has had with (a) Wiltshire county council and (b) Wiltshire Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149287]
(4) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Wiltshire's Fire and Rescue Service. [149289]
§ Mr. HammondTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what discussions he has had with(a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Surrey on his plans to regionalise the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service; and what the conclusions of those discussions were; [149352]
(2) what community consultation he has held in Surrey on his plans to regionalise the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service; [149353]
(3) what discussions he has had with the Surrey Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service; [149355]
(4) what discussions he has had with Surrey county council on his plans to regionalise the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service; [149357]
(5) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Surrey's Fire and Rescue Service. [149358]
§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what discussions he has had with Cambridgeshire county council on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149370]
(2) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Cambridgeshire's Fire and Rescue Service; [149372]
(3) what discussions he has had with the Cambridgeshire Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149388]
(4) what community consultation he has held in Cambridgeshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149390]
(5) what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Cambridgeshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was. [149391]
1456W
§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what community consultation he has held in Essex on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149292]
(2) what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time fire-fighters in Essex on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was; [149293]
(3) what discussions he has had with (a) Essex county council and (b) Essex Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149295]
(4) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Essex Fire and Rescue Service. [149297]
§ Mr. SymsTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what discussions he has had with the Dorset Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149457]
(2) what public consultation he has held in Dorset on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149459]
(3) what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Dorset on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was; [149460]
(4) what discussions he has had with local authorities in Dorset on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149461]
(5) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Dorset Fire and Rescue Service. [149463]
§ Mr. WilshireTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what discussions he has had with the Surrey Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149374]
(2) What discussions he has had with Surrey county council on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149375]
(3) what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Surrey on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was; [149376]
(4) what community consultation he has held in Surrey on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149377]
(5) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Surrey's Fire and Rescue Service. [149396]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Government have no plans at present to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service in the constituencies of the hon. Members. Their local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be responsible for the service. The White Paper-"Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808) made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service, but no referendum is currently planned for any region other than the north east, the north west and Yorkshire and Humberside. All local Fire and Rescue Authorities are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, regional 1457W management boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level
The Government are currently consulting on their draft National Framework for the Fire and Rescue Service. Those to whom the document has been sent include the chairs of individual fire authorities, the Local Government Association and a wide range of bodies representing both retained and full time staff. Police authorities have not been specifically consulted, but comments from all stakeholders are invited by 12 March 2004
In addition, all aspects of fire modernisation are discussed when we meet interested parties from time to time in the course of our ministerial duties. Chief and assistant chief fire officers from nearly all the Fire and Rescue Authorities in Great Britain attended the 3 December 2003 Fire and Rescue Service seminar addressed by myself and my hon. Friend the Member for Corby; and officials from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are engaged in a rolling programme of visits to local Fire and Rescue Services to discuss the draft National Framework
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what change in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Buckinghamshire; [149570]
(2) what estimate he has made of the change in job numbers in Buckinghamshire's Fire and Rescue Service as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service. [149574]
§ Mr. FlookTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what estimate he has made of the number of job losses in the Somerset Fire Service which will result from the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service; [149269]
(2) what reduction in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Somerset. [149273]
§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what change in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Kent. [149299]
§ Mr. GrayTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what change in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Wiltshire; [149286]
(2)what estimate he has made of the change in job numbers in Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service. [149290]
§ Mr. HammondTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what estimate he has made of the job losses in Surrey Fire and Rescue Service as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service; [149356]
(2) what reduction in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service. [149361]
1458W
§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what reduction in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Cambridgeshire; [149369]
(2)what estimate he has made of the job losses in Cambridgeshire as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service. [149373]
§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what change in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Essex; [149294]
(2)what estimate he has made of the change in the number of jobs in Essex Fire and Rescue Service as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service. [149298]
§ Mr. SymsTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the job losses in Dorset Fire and Rescue Service consequent upon the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service. [149456]
§ Mr. WilshireTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what reduction in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Surrey; [149393]
(2) what estimate he has made of job losses in Surrey Fire and Rescue Service as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service. [149397]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Government has no plans at present to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service in the constituencies of the hon. Members. Their local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be responsible for the service. The White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808) made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service, but no referendum is currently planned for any region other than the North East, the North West and Yorkshire and Humberside. All local Fire and Rescue Authorities are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, Regional Management Boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level
Under the Regional Management Board arrangements, staff numbers will continue to be a matter for the individual Fire and Rescue Authority employers concerned
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Buckinghamshire without the consent of Buckinghamshire County Council. [149572]
§ Mr. FlookTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Somerset without the consent of Somerset Fire Service. [149271]
§ Mr. GrayTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Wiltshire without the consent of Wiltshire County Council. [149288]
1459W
§ Mr. HammondTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service without the consent of Surrey County Council. [149351]
§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Cambridgeshire without the consent of Cambridgeshire County Council. [149371]
§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Essex without the consent of Essex County Council. [149296]
§ Mr. SymsTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Dorset. [149462]
§ Mr. WilshireTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Surrey without the consent of Surrey County Council. [149395]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Government have no plans at present to regionalise the Fire and Rescue service in the constituencies of the hon. Members. Their local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be responsible for the service. The White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808) made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service, but no referendum is currently planned for any region other than the North East, the North West and Yorkshire and Humberside. All local Fire and Rescue Authorities are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, Regional Management Boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level
I hope these voluntary arrangements will succeed. There are, however, provisions in the Fire and Rescue Services Bill currently before the House to strengthen and streamline the power that already exists, in section 6 of the Fire Services Act 1947, to combine Fire and Rescue Authorities following consultation with the existing authorities and other persons affected
§ David DavisTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Humberside he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149587]
§ Sir Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Cheshire he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149415]
§ Mr. Greg KnightTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Humberside he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149401]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808) made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service. Until this occurs, local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be1460W responsible for the service. They are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, Regional Management Boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level
The Government's conclusions about the benefits of a regional approach to the delivery of services are set out in the White Paper, and are informed by a number of reviews of the service, culminating in the report of the Independent Review of the Fire Service published in December 2002. These reports are listed in the White Paper
Since then, further reports have been published which indicate the benefits of a regional approach. The Mott MacDonald report on the "Future of Fire and Rescue Service Control Rooms in England and Wales", published in December 2003, concluded that the optimum solution to secure efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of fire and rescue service control rooms would be nine control rooms in England matched to the areas of the Government Offices for the Regions. The government broadly accepts the conclusions of Mott MacDonald report, and is consulting on implementation. Copies of the report and a related one by Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate are available in the Library of the House
A recent report by Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate also concluded that local purchasing arrangements based on individual preferences are not the most efficient means of obtaining goods, services and equipment. A copy of this report is available in the Library of the House
§ David DavisTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what community consultation he has held in Humberside on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149588]
(2) what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time fire-fighters in Humberside on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was; [149589]
(3) what discussions he has had with the East Riding of Yorkshire Council on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149591]
(4) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise the Humberside Fire and Rescue Service; [149594]
(5) what discussions he has had with the Humberside Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149600]
§ Sir Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Cheshire's Fire and Rescue Service; [149409]
(2) what discussions he has had with Cheshire County Council on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149411]
(3) what discussions he has had with the Cheshire Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149416]
(4) what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time fire-fighters in Cheshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was; [149413]
1461W(5) what community consultation he has held in Cheshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service.,[149414]
§ Mr. Greg KnightTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what community consultation he has held in Humberside and East Yorkshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149402]
(2) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise the Humberside Fire and Rescue Service. [149403]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe White Paper, "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808), made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly, there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service. Until this occurs, local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be responsible for the service. They are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, Regional Management Boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level. Our intention is that voters in the three northern regions should have an opportunity this autumn to vote in a referendum on whether they wish to establish an Elected Regional Assembly for their region
The Government are currently consulting on their draft National Framework for the Fire and Rescue Service. Those to whom the document has been sent include the Chairs of individual Fire Authorities, the Local Government Association and a wide range of bodies representing both retained and full time staff. Police authorities have not been specifically consulted, but comments from all stakeholders are invited by 12 March 2004
In addition, all aspects of fire modernisation are discussed when we meet interested parties from time to time in the course of our ministerial duties. Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers from nearly all the Fire and Rescue Authorities in Great Britain attended the 3 December 2003 Fire and Rescue Service seminar addressed by myself and my hon. Friend the Member for Corby; and officials from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are engaged in a rolling prograrhme of visits to local Fire and Rescue Services to discuss the draft National Framework
§ David DavisTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what change in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Humberside; [149590]
(2) what estimate he has made of the change in job numbers in the Humberside Fire and Rescue Service as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service. [149593]
§ Sir Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what estimate he has made of the job losses in Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service; [149408]
(2) what reduction in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Cheshire. [149412]
1462W
§ Mr. Greg KnightTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the job losses in Humberside, including east Yorkshire, as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service. [149400]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808) made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service. Until this occurs, local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be responsible for the service. They are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, Regional Management Boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level
Under the Regional Management Board arrangements, staff numbers will continue to be a matter for the individual Fire and Rescue Authority employers concerned. Where Regional Fire and Rescue Authorities are established, staff numbers will similarly be a matter for the new body. But a reduction in the number of individual Fire and Rescue Authorities is expected to lead to a reduction in the number of senior posts
§ David DavisTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Humberside without the consent of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council. [149592]
§ Sir Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Cheshire without the consent of Cheshire County Council. [149410]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe White Paper, "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808), made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly, there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service. Until this occurs, local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be responsible for the service. They are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, Regional Management Boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level.
I hope these voluntary arrangements will succeed. There are, however, provisions in the Fire and Rescue Services Bill currently before the House to strengthen and streamline the power that already exists, in section 6 of the Fire Services Act 1947, to combine Fire and Rescue Authorities following consultation with the existing authorities and other persons affected.
Provision for the establishment of a Regional Fire and Rescue Authority following a 'yes' vote in a referendum will be included in the proposed English Regional Assemblies Bill, a draft of which we will do our best to publish before the referendums in autumn 2004.