Provision for police and crime commissioner to be fire and rescue authority

Part of Policing and Crime Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 11:00 am on 22 March 2016.

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Photo of Jack Dromey Jack Dromey Shadow Minister (Home Affairs) 11:00, 22 March 2016

Like my hon. Friend, I am disappointed that, a powerful case having been made, there should be such a cursory reply. The point was made earlier that PCCs are elected. Yes, they are, but so too are local authority representatives on fire authorities—they are elected, and they are accountable. Why is it that a PCC, with the support of the Home Secretary, could take over responsibility for the fire service against the will of locally elected representatives? That cannot be localism by any description.