Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of a fair funding review of (a) fire services and (b) police services, alongside the broader local government fair funding review.

The Police Funding Formula Review is currently in progress, and we intend to introduce a new funding formula before the next General Election.

The Review will include an evidence-based assessment of policing demand and the relative impact of local factors on forces. We are working closely with the policing sector and relevant experts to develop proposals, and a full public consultation will take place before any new funding arrangements are put in place.

My Department is in regular contact with fire and rescue authorities to ensure we remain informed of their financial circumstances. The Government is committed to ensuring that funding allocations for Fire and Rescue Authorities are based on an up-to-date assessment of their needs and resources. We will work closely with local partners, and take stock of the challenges and opportunities they face, before consulting on any potential funding reform.