Clause 2 - Power to create combined fire and rescue authorities
Fire and Rescue Services Bill
10:15 am
Mr Nick Raynsford (Minister of State (Local and Regional Government), Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)
We have always made it clear that we regard as fundamental appropriate arrangements at regional level, to deal with matters such as resilience and the establishment of joint control rooms. It is not a matter in which a light touch, to use the hon. Gentleman's phrase, is appropriate. It must be achieved in the interests of national resilience. I do not share his view that a failure to deliver can be treated lightly. That is why the provisions, as I have made clear, are designed to be a failsafe in the event of failure to reach agreement.
Given that explanation, I hope that the hon. Member for Teignbridge will accept that amendment No. 4 would not achieve its ostensible purpose of improving public safety. However, I agree with his objective, and the Government are wholly committed to improving public safety. He referred to clause 22: perhaps he overlooked clause 21, which is more relevant but in which the same phraseology applies. Clause 21(4) imposes obligations on the Secretary of State to discharge his functions under the fire and rescue national framework in a way that is best calculated to promote
''(a) public safety, (b) the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of fire and rescue authorities, and (c) economy, efficiency and effectiveness in connection with the matters in relation to which fire and rescue authorities have functions.''
That is a clear indication that in the Secretary of State's actions through the national framework, which promotes exactly what we are now discussing, he is bound to pay proper regard to public safety.
Several hon. Members rose—