Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference the finding in the University of Central Lancashire report entitled Minimising firefighters’ exposure to toxic fire effluents: Interim Best Practice Report, published in November 2020, that exposure to high levels of toxic contaminants increased cancer among firefighters, if she will take steps to improve indoor air quality in fire stations.

Responsibility for health and wellbeing of firefighters rests with Fire and Rescue Authorities as employers. This includes working conditions inside fire stations. There are strict requirements for decontamination of personal protective equipment following incidents which should always be followed.

The National Fire Chiefs’ Council’s (NFCC) Health and Wellbeing lead, has established a health and wellbeing board to drive positive change across the sector which focuses on prevention, early intervention and support for individuals. The Home Office are supporting these initiatives.