Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions her Department has had with (a) fire and rescue authorities, (b) the Fire Brigades Union and (c) other fire and rescue service stakeholders on the development of national professional standards and the establishment of a standards body to drive sector improvement.

The creation of professional standards for the service is a key element of the Government’s fire reform agenda and it regularly features in our discussions with a wide range of sector partners including the Chief Fire Officers’ Association, the Fire Bridges’ Union and the Local Government Association.