Written question asked by Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 5 January 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 January 2004. It was answered by Nick Raynsford (Labour) on Monday, 12 January 2004 on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Question: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, for what reason the budget of the Arson Control Forum is projected to rise from £1.36 million in 2002-03 to £4.02 million in 2003-04 and to £4.80 million in 2005-06. - Inc ref to 'Our Fire and Rescue Services'.

Answer: Norman Lamb: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reason the budget of the Arson Control Forum is projected to rise from £1.36 million in 2002-03 to £4.02 million in 2003-04 and to £4.80 million in 2005-06. [146420] Mr. Raynsford: Since 2001 the Arson Control Forum has funded 50 local pilot projects designed to reduce arson. The increased budget recognises their success and will enable the forum to fund additional projects, due to be announced shortly, which build on the lessons learned from the original pilots. Local arson reduction projects are essential to achieve the Government's target to reduce by 10 per cent. the number of deliberate fires by March 2010 from the 2001-02 baseline, as published in the Fire White Paper `Our Fire and Rescue Service'. This target is a key objective in the Government's plans to reform the fire and rescue service which include increased emphasis on fire prevention work. This objective was reiterated in the draft Fire and Rescue National Framework, published on 11 December 2003.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 416 c567-8W;416 c567W; 146420
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Crime prevention Arson Finance Pilot schemes Arson Control Forum Implementation Fund
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk