Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the effect on local authority Fire and Rescue services of the Ministry of Defence's proposals to contract-out the Defence Fire and Rescue Service.

There have been no recent discussions between Ministers in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Secretary of State for Defence on the effect on local authority Fire and Rescue services of the Ministry of Defence's proposals to contract-out the Defence Fire and Rescue Service. Responsibility for fire and rescue policy rests with the Home Office.