Clause 2 - Power to create combined fire and rescue authorities
Fire and Rescue Services Bill
10:30 am
Mr Nick Raynsford (Minister of State (Local and Regional Government), Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)
I shall give way in a moment, but I am trying to answer the hon. Gentleman's question.
Clause 2 deals with a technical process of powers to make a combination, and it is important that we do not inhibit the scope for those powers to be used in the circumstances that I have outlined, which is why the addition of the phrase ''public safety'' would not be helpful in this clause. I have already assured the hon. Gentleman that public safety is a pre-eminent consideration and that it is provided for in clause 21.
Richard Younger-Ross rose—
Mr. Stephen McCabe (Birmingham, Hall Green) (Lab) rose—