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22 Jan 2004 : Column 1451W—continued
Public Defender Service
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) what the set up costs were of each of the Public Defender Service's pilot offices; [149439]
- (2) what assessment (a) he and (b) the Legal Services Commission has made of the average cost per case arising from the Public Defender Service's handling of criminal defence work in (i) 2001–02 and (ii) 2002–03; [149440]
(3) what assessment (a) he and (b) the Legal Services Commission has made of the Public Defender Service's performance; and how this has informed decisions regarding the extension of those pilots. [149441]
Mr. Lammy: The set up costs of the Public Defender Service (PDS) were as follows: Birmingham £193,312; Cheltenham £221,054; Darlington £126,867; Chester £175,225; Liverpool £141,663; Middlesbrough £166,479; Pontypridd £108,754; Swansea £254,014; Central £419,346. Total £1,806,714. These costs were reported in the first two PDS Annual Reports. Individual office costs include refurbishment, furniture, some IT hardware, software, office equipment and security systems. Central costs include purchase of case management system, integration into the Legal Services Commission (LSC) IT network, recruitment and induction.
Assessment of the average cost per case in the PDS is one element of an extensive Methodology (the Methodology Paper can be found at www. legalservices.gov.uk or available on request) developed by the independent research team. The researchers began to collect data at the beginning of the second year of the four-year pilot and are due to report in 2005. A full assessment of average case costs will not be possible until all the research has been completed. In part, this is because the offices need to develop foil caseloads in order for the assessment to be undertaken. All offices began with no clients and full case loads can only be developed over time.
The Department monitors the PDS by way of monthly reports from the LSC on the PDS and regularly meets with the LSC and the researchers. In order to better assess the performance of (he PDS the LSC, with the agreement of Ministers, increased the number of PDS offices from six to eight in 2003. Ministers will make a decision on the future of the PDS in the light of
22 Jan 2004 : Column 1452W
the research at the end of 2005. There are no current plans to open further offices but the Government and the LSC have always said that the PDS provides a flexible option to deliver criminal defence services where existing provision is low, or of poor quality.
Sentencing Policy
Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent action has been taken to ensure consistency in sentencing; and what further action is planned. [146072]
Mr. Leslie: The Court of Appeal Criminal Division has issued sentencing guidelines in particular types of cases for over 20 years. They are widely publicised in legal journals and law reports. These decisions are also disseminated by the Judicial Studies Board during its regular seminars.
The Criminal Justice Act 2003 establishes the Sentencing Guidelines Council which will take over the Court of Appeal's present responsibility for issuing sentencing guidelines. Parliament will have a role in considering and scrutinising the draft guidelines drawn up by the Council.
The Council will be chaired by the Lord Chief Justice. It will have seven judicial members, drawn from every tier of court that deals with sentencing in criminal cases, and four non-judicial members (with experience of policing, criminal prosecution, criminal defence and the interests of victims). The Home Secretary will also appoint as an observer a person with experience of sentencing policy and the administration of sentences.
In every individual case, the judge or magistrate will continue to make his or her own decision as to sentence, but will be required to have regard to the Council's guidelines.
Video Equipment
Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what system is in place to assess the impact of the quality of video facilities on the relative quality of evidence given in a case. [147669]
Mr. Leslie: An ongoing evaluation of all aspects of Special Measures provisions, including TV links, is being conducted by the Home Office. A report is due to be published by September 2004. Following visits to a number of courts and interviews with witnesses, initial findings have indicated that the new arrangements have been positively received and the quality of equipment is not an issue.
Voter Registration
Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many (a) asylum seekers and (b) illegal immigrants are registered to vote. [148734]
Mr. Leslie: This information is not collected. Such persons are not eligible to register to vote, with the exception that a person from a Commonwealth country
22 Jan 2004 : Column 1453W
who has leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom and subsequently claims asylum may register to vote until that existing leave ceases.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Fire and Rescue Service
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Buckinghamshire he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149567]
Mr. Flook: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Somerset he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149276]
Mr. Gray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Wiltshire he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149283]
Mr. Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what research relating to Surrey he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service; [149354]
- (2) what research has led him to the conclusion that the optimum suprabrigade structure for the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service is one based on the existing Government Office South East Region. [149359]
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Essex he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149291]
Mr. Syms: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Dorset he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149458]
Mr. Paice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Cambridgeshire he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149389]
Mr. Wilshire: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Surrey he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149394]
Mr. Raynsford: The Government have no plans at present to regionalise the Fire and Rescue service in the constituencies of the hon. Members. Their local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be responsible for the service. The White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808) made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service, but no referendum is currently planned for any region other than the North East, the North West and Yorkshire and Humberside. All local Fire and Rescue Authorities are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, Regional
22 Jan 2004 : Column 1454W
Management Boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level.
The Government's conclusions about the benefits of a regional approach to the delivery of services are set out in the White Paper, and are informed by a number of reviews of the service, culminating in the report of the Independent Review of the Fire Service published in December 2002. These reports are listed in the White Paper.
Since then, further reports have been published which indicate the benefits of a regional approach. The Mott MacDonald report on the "Future of Fire and Rescue Service Control Rooms in England and Wales", published in December 2003, concluded that the optimum solution to secure efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of fire and rescue service control rooms would be nine control rooms in England matched to the areas of the Government Offices for the Regions. The Government broadly accepts the conclusions of Mott MacDonald report, and is consulting on implementation. Copies of the report and a related one by Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate are available in the Library of the House.
A recent report by Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate also concluded that local purchasing arrangements based on individual preferences are not the most efficient means of obtaining goods, services and equipment. A copy of this report is available in the Library of the House.
Mr. John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what discussions he has had with the Thames Valley Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149566]
- (2) what community consultation he has held in Buckinghamshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149568]
(3) what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Buckinghamshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was; [149569]
(4) what discussions he has had with Buckinghamshire county council on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service in Buckinghamshire; [149571]
(5) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Buckinghamshire's Fire and Rescue Service. [149573]
Mr. Flook: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Somerset Fire Service; [149270]
- (2) what discussions he has had with Somerset county council on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149272]
(3) what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Somerset on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was; [149274]
(4) what community consultation he has held in Somerset on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149275]
22 Jan 2004 : Column 1455W
(5) what discussions he has had with the Avon and Somerset Police Authority on plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149277]
Mr. Gale: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what discussions he has had with (a) Kent county council and (b) the Kent Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149300]
- (2) what community consultation he has held in Kent on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149301]
Mr. Gray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what community consultations he has held in Wiltshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149284]
- (2) what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Wiltshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was; [149285]
(3) what discussions he has had with (a) Wiltshire county council and (b) Wiltshire Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149287]
(4) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Wiltshire's Fire and Rescue Service. [149289]
Mr. Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Surrey on his plans to regionalise the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service; and what the conclusions of those discussions were; [149352]
- (2) what community consultation he has held in Surrey on his plans to regionalise the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service; [149353]
(3) what discussions he has had with the Surrey Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service; [149355]
(4) what discussions he has had with Surrey county council on his plans to regionalise the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service; [149357]
(5) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Surrey's Fire and Rescue Service. [149358]
Mr. Paice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what discussions he has had with Cambridgeshire county council on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149370]
- (2) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Cambridgeshire's Fire and Rescue Service; [149372]
(3) what discussions he has had with the Cambridgeshire Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149388]
(4) what community consultation he has held in Cambridgeshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149390]
(5) what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Cambridgeshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was. [149391]
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Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what community consultation he has held in Essex on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149292]
- (2) what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time fire-fighters in Essex on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was; [149293]
(3) what discussions he has had with (a) Essex county council and (b) Essex Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149295]
(4) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Essex Fire and Rescue Service. [149297]
Mr. Syms: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what discussions he has had with the Dorset Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149457]
- (2) what public consultation he has held in Dorset on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149459]
(3) what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Dorset on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was; [149460]
(4) what discussions he has had with local authorities in Dorset on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149461]
(5) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Dorset Fire and Rescue Service. [149463]
Mr. Wilshire: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what discussions he has had with the Surrey Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149374]
- (2) what discussions he has had with Surrey county council on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149375]
(3) what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Surrey on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was; [149376]
(4) what community consultation he has held in Surrey on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149377]
(5) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Surrey's Fire and Rescue Service. [149396]
Mr. Raynsford: The Government have no plans at present to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service in the constituencies of the hon. Members. Their local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be responsible for the service. The White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808) made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service, but no referendum is currently planned for any region other than the north east, the north west and Yorkshire and Humberside. All local Fire and Rescue Authorities are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, regional
22 Jan 2004 : Column 1457W
management boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level.
The Government are currently consulting on their draft National Framework for the Fire and Rescue Service. Those to whom the document has been sent include the chairs of individual fire authorities, the Local Government Association and a wide range of bodies representing both retained and full time staff. Police authorities have not been specifically consulted, but comments from all stakeholders are invited by 12 March 2004.
In addition, all aspects of fire modernisation are discussed when we meet interested parties from time to time in the course of our ministerial duties. Chief and assistant chief fire officers from nearly all the Fire and Rescue Authorities in Great Britain attended the 3 December 2003 Fire and Rescue Service seminar addressed by myself and my hon. Friend the Member for Corby; and officials from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are engaged in a rolling programme of visits to local Fire and Rescue Services to discuss the draft National Framework.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what change in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Buckinghamshire; [149570]
- (2) what estimate he has made of the change in job numbers in Buckinghamshire's Fire and Rescue Service as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service. [149574]
Mr. Flook: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what estimate he has made of the number of job losses in the Somerset Fire Service which will result from the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service; [149269]
- (2) what reduction in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Somerset. [149273]
Mr. Gale: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what change in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Kent. [149299]
Mr. Gray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what change in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Wiltshire; [149286]
- (2) what estimate he has made of the change in job numbers in Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service. [149290]
Mr. Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what estimate he has made of the job losses in Surrey Fire and Rescue Service as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service; [149356]
- (2) what reduction in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service. [149361]
22 Jan 2004 : Column 1458W
Mr. Paice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what reduction in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Cambridgeshire; [149369]
- (2) what estimate he has made of the job losses in Cambridgeshire as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service. [149373]
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what change in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Essex; [149294]
- (2) what estimate he has made of the change in the number of jobs in Essex Fire and Rescue Service as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service. [149298]
Mr. Syms: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the job losses in Dorset Fire and Rescue Service consequent upon the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service. [149456]
Mr. Wilshire: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what reduction in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Surrey; [149393]
- (2) what estimate he has made of job losses in Surrey Fire and Rescue Service as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service. [149397]
Mr. Raynsford: The Government has no plans at present to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service in the constituencies of the hon. Members. Their local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be responsible for the service. The White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808) made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service, but no referendum is currently planned for any region other than the North East, the North West and Yorkshire and Humberside. All local Fire and Rescue Authorities are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, Regional Management Boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level.
Under the Regional Management Board arrangements, staff numbers will continue to be a matter for the individual Fire and Rescue Authority employers concerned.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Buckinghamshire without the consent of Buckinghamshire County Council. [149572]
Mr. Flook: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Somerset without the consent of Somerset Fire Service. [149271]
Mr. Gray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Wiltshire without the consent of Wiltshire County Council. [149288]
22 Jan 2004 : Column 1459W
Mr. Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service without the consent of Surrey County Council. [149351]
Mr. Paice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Cambridgeshire without the consent of Cambridgeshire County Council. [149371]
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Essex without the consent of Essex County Council. [149296]
Mr. Syms: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Dorset. [149462]
Mr. Wilshire: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Surrey without the consent of Surrey County Council. [149395]
Mr. Raynsford: The Government have no plans at present to regionalise the Fire and Rescue service in the constituencies of the hon. Members. Their local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be responsible for the service. The White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808) made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service, but no referendum is currently planned for any region other than the North East, the North West and Yorkshire and Humberside. All local Fire and Rescue Authorities are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, Regional Management Boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level.
I hope these voluntary arrangements will succeed. There are, however, provisions in the Fire and Rescue Services Bill currently before the House to strengthen and streamline the power that already exists, in section 6 of the Fire Services Act 1947, to combine Fire and Rescue Authorities following consultation with the existing authorities and other persons affected.
David Davis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Humberside he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149587]
Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what reseach relating to Cheshire he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149415]
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Humberside he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149401]
Mr. Raynsford: The White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808) made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service. Until this occurs, local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be
22 Jan 2004 : Column 1460W
responsible for the service. They are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, Regional Management Boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level.
The Government's conclusions about the benefits of a regional approach to the delivery of services are set out in the White Paper, and are informed by a number of reviews of the service, culminating in the report of the Independent Review of the Fire Service published in December 2002. These reports are listed in the White Paper.
Since then, further reports have been published which indicate the benefits of a regional approach. The Mott MacDonald report on the "Future of Fire and Rescue Service Control Rooms in England and Wales", published in December 2003, concluded that the optimum solution to secure efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of fire and rescue service control rooms would be nine control rooms in England matched to the areas of the Government Offices for the Regions. The government broadly accepts the conclusions of Mott MacDonald report, and is consulting on implementation. Copies of the report and a related one by Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate are available in the Library of the House.
A recent report by Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate also concluded that local purchasing arrangements based on individual preferences are not the most efficient means of obtaining goods, services and equipment. A copy of this report is available in the Library of the House.
David Davis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what community consultation he has held in Humberside on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149588]
- (2) what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time fire-fighters in Humberside on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was; [149589]
(3) what discussions he has had with the East Riding of Yorkshire Council on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149591]
(4) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise the Humberside Fire and Rescue Service; [149594]
(5) what discussions he has had with the Humberside Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149600]
Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Cheshire's Fire and Rescue Service; [149409]
- (2) what discussions he has had with Cheshire County Council on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149411]
(3) what discussions he has had with the Cheshire Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149416]
(4) what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time fire-fighters in Cheshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was; [149413]
22 Jan 2004 : Column 1461W
(5) what community consultation he has held in Cheshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149414]
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what community consultation he has held in Humberside and East Yorkshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149402]
- (2) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise the Humberside Fire and Rescue Service. [149403]
Mr. Raynsford: The White Paper, "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808), made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly, there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service. Until this occurs, local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be responsible for the service. They are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, Regional Management Boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level. Our intention is that voters in the three northern regions should have an opportunity this autumn to vote in a referendum on whether they wish to establish an Elected Regional Assembly for their region.
The Government are currently consulting on their draft National Framework for the Fire and Rescue Service. Those to whom the document has been sent include the Chairs of individual Fire Authorities, the Local Government Association and a wide range of bodies representing both retained and full time staff. Police authorities have not been specifically consulted, but comments from all stakeholders are invited by 12 March 2004.
In addition, all aspects of fire modernisation are discussed when we meet interested parties from time to time in the course of our ministerial duties. Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers from nearly all the Fire and Rescue Authorities in Great Britain attended the 3 December 2003 Fire and Rescue Service seminar addressed by myself and my hon. Friend the Member for Corby; and officials from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are engaged in a rolling programme of visits to local Fire and Rescue Services to discuss the draft National Framework.
David Davis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what change in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Humberside; [149590]
- (2) what estimate he has made of the change in job numbers in the Humberside Fire and Rescue Service as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service. [149593]
Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what estimate he has made of the job losses in Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service; [149408]
- (2) what reduction in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Cheshire. [149412]
22 Jan 2004 : Column 1462W
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the job losses in Humberside, including east Yorkshire, as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service. [149400]
Mr. Raynsford: The White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808) made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service. Until this occurs, local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be responsible for the service. They are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, Regional Management Boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level.
Under the Regional Management Board arrangements, staff numbers will continue to be a matter for the individual Fire and Rescue Authority employers concerned. Where Regional Fire and Rescue Authorities are established, staff numbers will similarly be a matter for the new body. But a reduction in the number of individual Fire and Rescue Authorities is expected to lead to a reduction in the number of senior posts.
David Davis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Humberside without the consent of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council. [149592]
Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Cheshire without the consent of Cheshire County Council. [149410]
Mr. Raynsford: The White Paper, "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808), made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly, there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service. Until this occurs, local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be responsible for the service. They are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, Regional Management Boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level.
I hope these voluntary arrangements will succeed. There are, however, provisions in the Fire and Rescue Services Bill currently before the House to strengthen and streamline the power that already exists, in section 6 of the Fire Services Act 1947, to combine Fire and Rescue Authorities following consultation with the existing authorities and other persons affected.
Provision for the establishment of a Regional Fire and Rescue Authority following a 'yes' vote in a referendum will be included in the proposed English Regional Assemblies Bill, a draft of which we will do our best to publish before the referendums in autumn 2004.
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