Kevan Jones
Labour, North Durham
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of UK capability to tackle wildfires using aircraft.
James Brokenshire
The Minister of State, Home Department
Fire is a devolved matter for the respective governments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. I am providing response for England only.
Fire and rescue authorities in England are required to produce an Integrated Risk Management Plan to assess foreseeable fire and rescue related risks (including wildfires) that could affect their area, and how they will respond.
Currently no FRS owns aerial firefighting assets, though they work with other responder organisations which may deploy them in the event of a wildfire, as was done in the unprecedented 2018 wildfires near Manchester.
Fire and Rescue Services are provided with the funding they need, to respond to emergencies including wildfires. In addition, the Home Office supports services by providing over £27m for specialist capabilities, such as high-volume pumps, which are well used to combat major wildfires.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
