Clause 7 - Fire-fighting
Fire and Rescue Services Bill
2:45 pm
Mr Nick Raynsford (Minister of State (Local and Regional Government), Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)
Essentially, clause 7 re-enacts the existing statutory duty under section 1 of the Fire Services Act 1947. The traditional intervention role that it defines remains a core function.
An authority is required to make arrangements for the efficient discharge of its duty in normal circumstances—in particular, to secure equipment, personnel and services. My layman's understanding is that efficiency is the right emphasis in the context because the authority will work to meet its obligations to ensure the benefits of efficiency, economy and effectiveness more widely, and, in any case, it will do that under the duties spelled out in the Bill. The use of the term ''efficiently'' is simply a reflection of the wish to have the authority act efficiently to give effect to its obligations.
The second question that the hon. Gentleman asked about clause 7(2)(c) was whether there is an implication that existing fire authorities should be responsible for having their own control room. That is not the case. It is the same provision that applies under the existing definition in the 1947 Act. It simply requires the authority to make arrangements for dealing with calls, and that can be done either by running its own control room or by having a joint control room with other authorities. Joint control rooms have been established in certain areas. Indeed, the whole of London is moving to a single control room, although admittedly that is a single fire authority. Nevertheless, there is a wide range provisions on control rooms in existing arrangements and they are not changed by the Bill.
The third item the hon. Gentleman asked about was the arrangement for ensuring that reasonable steps are taken to prevent or limit damage to property resulting from action taken for the purposes mentioned in subsection (1). That is an existing duty that fire authorities understand and under which they operate. He asked about the potential for causing damage to the environment in certain circumstances. I simply say to him that the measure replicates provisions in the 1947 Act.
I hope that that gives the hon. Gentleman the reassurances he sought. I commend the clause to the Committee.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 7 ordered to stand part of the Bill.