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Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Answer

David Davis: To 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 Winterton: To 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] (5) what community consultation he has held in Cheshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149414] Mr. Greg Knight: To 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. Raynsford: 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. 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 programme of visits to local Fire and Rescue Services to discuss the draft National Framework.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

416 c1460-1W; 149588;149589;149591;149594;149600

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Fire and rescue services Humberside Public participation Reform

Link

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