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Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Answer

Mr. Bercow: To 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. Flook: To 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. Gray: To 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] Mr. Hammond: To 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. Paice: To 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. Pickles: To 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. Syms: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Dorset. [149462] Mr. Wilshire: To 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. Raynsford: The 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.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

416 c1458-9W; 149288

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Fire and rescue services Reform Wiltshire

Link

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