Oral Answers to Questions

Mary Glindon Excerpts

Monday 4th February 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

15. What assessment he has made of the effect of spending reductions in each fire and rescue service area.

[Mrs Mary Glindon (North Tyneside) (Lab)]

16. What assessment he has made of the effect of spending reductions in each fire and rescue service area.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Brandon Lewis)]

Fire and rescue authorities have been protected by back-loading grant reductions into years 3 and 4 of the spending review period. That has provided time to meet the reductions without impacting on the quality of local services. There is scope for fire and rescue authorities to make sensible savings.

--- Later in debate ---

[Brandon Lewis]

The West Midlands fire service also benefits from the de minimis changes in this year’s settlement. It is also one of the authorities that has gained most from the capital grant funding of £11.5 million.

[Mrs Glindon]

Tyne and Wear fire and rescue service would have suffered a 16% reduction in grant funding over this coming year had it not been for the floor mechanism. Given the reliance on the floor, does the Minister believe that the formula accurately reflects the relevant needs and local risks? Will he review the formula now before it is locked in?

[Brandon Lewis]

I believe that a report from the House of Commons Library stated that this year’s formula and settlement were fair to north, south, east and west. However, to offer some extra support to fire and rescue authorities, I have asked the outgoing chief fire and rescue adviser, Sir Ken Knight, to look at ways in which they can deliver savings and improvements without reducing the quality of their lifesaving work.