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Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Answer

Mr. Todd: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish the risk assessment conducted on the proposal to regionalise emergency fire control; and what steps he is taking to ensure that those engaged in providing services (a) contribute to the design of new systems and (b) maintain services during transition. [224927] Mr. Raynsford: The Mott MacDonald report "The Future of Fire Service Control Rooms and Communications in England and Wales" which was published in 2000 with an update in 2003, undertook a cost/benefit risk analysis of the options for the provision of fire and rescue service control rooms and communications. The original report is available at: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm fire/documen ts/page/odpm fire 601055.pdf The 2003 update is available at: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm fire/documen ts/page/odpm fire 026180.pdf There are a number of control room and other fire and rescue service personnel seconded to the national project team, and a member of the Chief Fire Officers' Association is employed to work on the project full time. These have had, and will continue to have, significant input into the design of the accommodation, the specification for the control room systems and the development of processes and staffing models. We also have a wide programme of engagement with members of the service through regular national seminars, control staff workshops and other workstream-focussed working groups, which brings significant expertise to the project and ensures that the service has a voice to influence and guide progress. Maintenance of adequate staffing levels in control rooms during the transition period is the responsibility of individual fire and rescue authorities. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has provided guidance to authorities on methods of retention.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

432 c1602-3W; 224927

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Fire and rescue services Location Reorganisation Risk assessment

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk