§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the changes in the number of jobs in Kent County Fire and Rescue Service that would arise as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service. [149306]
§ Mr. RaynsfordI refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him and to the hon. Members for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow), for Taunton (Mr. Flook), for North Wiltshire (Mr. Gray), for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond), for Poole (Mr. Syms) and for Spelthorne (Mr. Wilshire) on 22 January 2004,Official Report, columns 1457–58W.
§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) if he will list those whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise the Kent Fire and Rescue Service; [149307]
158W(2) what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Kent on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was. [149309]
§ Mr. RaynsfordI refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him and the hon. Members for Buckingham, Taunton, North Wiltshire, Runnymede and Weybridge, South East Cambridgeshire, Brentwood and Ongar, Poole and Spelthorne on 22 January 2004,Official Report, columns 1454–57W.
§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Kent without the consent of Kent county council. [149308]
§ Mr. RaynsfordI refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Members for Buckingham, Taunton, North Wiltshire, Runnymede and Weybridge, South East Cambridgeshire, Brentwood and Ongar, Poole and Spelthorne on 22 January 2004,Official Report, columns 1458–59W.
§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Kent he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149310]
§ Mr. RaynsfordI refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Members for Buckingham, Taunton, North Wiltshire, Runnymede and Weybridge, South East Cambridgeshire, Brentwood and Ongar, Poole and Spelthorne on 22 January 2004,Official Report, columns 1453–54W.
§ Charles HendryTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what level of grant has been provided to each(a) metropolitan fire authority, (b) county council fire authority and (c) combined fire authority for each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [150949]
§ Phil HopeThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will put the information that the hon. Member for Wealden has asked for in relation to metropolitan fire authorities in the Library once officials have completed work on the local government settlement.
However, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is unable to provide the information that the hon. Member has asked for in relation to county council fire authorities because the grant that they receive is general grant to cover all services supplied by the county. No amount is hypothecated for fire and rescue services. Nor can the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister provide the requested information on combined fire authorities because they will not have received any grant before 2004–05.
Nonetheless, the Government have delivered another good settlement for fire and rescue authorities. The Government have ensured that once again all authorities receive above inflation increases, with fire and rescue authorities receiving increases in grant between 3.5 per cent. and 5 per cent. and averaging 4.3 per cent. Since taking office, this Government have increased funding by 30 per cent. in real terms.
159W
Expenditure provision for the fire and rescue service in England (£ million) Increase on previous year (percentage) 1997–98 1,237 4.4 1998–99 1,299 5.0 1999–2000 1,346 3.6 2000–01 1,393 3.5 2001–02 1,463 5.0 2002–03 1,521 4.0 2003–04 1,583 4.0
§ Charles HendryTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance he gives to fire authorities on the level of financial reserves they should maintain. [150950]
§ Phil HopeMy right hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Mr. Raynsford) wrote to all fire and rescue authorities with guidance on 23 January. In that letter my right hon. Friend acknowledged that for Combined Fire Authorities the transition to precepting status has raised a number of issues, including the level of financial reserves. The letter clarified the Government's position on a number of points, including:
- (a) In line with CIPFA guidance, there is no recommended level of reserves.
- (b) The impact on council tax payers should be considered by authorities when considering reserves. This may point to spreading any burden on council tax payers over a number of years.
- (c) The level of risk will not change as a result of the move to precepting status. CFAs should explore arrangements with their constituent authorities that reflect this.
Fire Service Circular 1/2004, also issued on 23 January, contained more detailed guidance on these issues.
§ Charles HendryTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take account of the need for fire authorities to build up reserves in decisions on capping precepting fire authorities. [150951]
§ Phil HopeMy right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has made it clear that he expects council tax and precept increases in all authorities to be in low single figures. This applies to all authorities, including fire and rescue authorities. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is prepared to use his capping powers if necessary. When considering capping, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister would want to look closely at local authorities' budgets and council tax rises before coming to a view on what might be appropriate factors to take into account.