Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the allocation of funds to the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service; and if he will make a statement.

In 2018/19, Tyne & Wear Fire and Rescue Authority is receiving £47.8 million in core spending power. This is an increase of 0.8% compared with 2017/18. In addition, at March 2018, Tyne & Wear Fire and Rescue Authority held £25 million in reserves, equivalent to 52.3% of core spending power.

Details of Tyne & Wear Fire and Rescue Authority Spending Power and the contribution from formula grant or the Settlement Funding Assessment since 2010 can be found on line at:

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090506010526/http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/0910/grant.htm

Since 2010 there have been changes to the finance and function of local government, therefore spending power, Formula Grant and Settlement Funding Assessment are not directly comparable over this period.

Fire and rescue services have the resources they need to do their important work. Overall fire and rescue authorities is receiving around £2.3 billion in 2018/19. Financial reserves held by single purpose Fire and Rescue Authorities increased by 80% to £545 million between 31 March 2011 and 31 March 2018. This is equivalent of 42% of their core spending power.