Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 83177 on Batteries: Storage, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the Planning Practice Guidance in ensuring that battery developers consult fire services.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government engages regularly with the National Fire Chiefs Council, representatives of local authorities and other key stakeholders to gather feedback on the effectiveness of the safety framework for grid-scale batteries, including the Planning Practice Guidance (PPG).
The PPG sets a clear expectation that developers engage with fire and rescue services before they submit a planning application for a grid-scale battery site. It also encourages local planning authorities to engage with fire services as part of the formal period of public consultation and before reaching a planning determination. As such, government considers the PPG to be effective in setting out clear expectations for developers and decision-makers on grid-scale planning applications.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many Fire and Rescue Authorities successfully required (a) freeholders, (b) management companies and (c) managing agents to issue Fire Safety Assessments to residents in (a) 2022-23, (b) 2023-24 and (c) 2024-25.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, there is a requirement on responsible persons (those responsible for fire safety such as a building owner, landlord or managing agent) to undertake and record a fire risk assessment for their premises. Article 21A also makes clear that the responsible person must communicate the risks identified in the fire risk assessment to residents (including whenever this is updated). They are not required to share the whole assessment as there is an expectation that they summarise the risks given the potentially technical nature of the assessment.
Fire and rescue services are not in a position to compel responsible persons to share the whole fire risk assessment and the Government does not hold data on enforcement or breaches of Article 21A. If the risks highlighted in the assessment are not being shared with residents they should request this from their responsible person, and if they continue to not receive this information then they could report this to their fire and rescue service.
In guidance we publish on these requirements, titled Check your fire safety responsibilities under Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022, we advise that those responsible for fire safety communicate this information alongside the instructions to residents on what to do in the event of a fire which they are required to provide on an annual basis. This advice is repeated in the statutory guidance on fire safety in blocks of flats which we aim to publish in the first half of 2026.
There is a regulatory power under Article 21A (4) allowing the Government to mandate the frequency of this information. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the legislation to identify if such a mandate is necessary.
In addition, on 4 July 2025, the government published a consultation on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services which can be found on gov.uk here. This included proposals to give leaseholders the right to access specific information relating to the condition of their building, including on fire safety. The consultation closed on 26 September 2025, and we are analysing responses.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure leaseholders are able to access information about fire safety.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, there is a requirement on responsible persons (those responsible for fire safety such as a building owner, landlord or managing agent) to undertake and record a fire risk assessment for their premises. Article 21A also makes clear that the responsible person must communicate the risks identified in the fire risk assessment to residents (including whenever this is updated). They are not required to share the whole assessment as there is an expectation that they summarise the risks given the potentially technical nature of the assessment.
Fire and rescue services are not in a position to compel responsible persons to share the whole fire risk assessment and the Government does not hold data on enforcement or breaches of Article 21A. If the risks highlighted in the assessment are not being shared with residents they should request this from their responsible person, and if they continue to not receive this information then they could report this to their fire and rescue service.
In guidance we publish on these requirements, titled Check your fire safety responsibilities under Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022, we advise that those responsible for fire safety communicate this information alongside the instructions to residents on what to do in the event of a fire which they are required to provide on an annual basis. This advice is repeated in the statutory guidance on fire safety in blocks of flats which we aim to publish in the first half of 2026.
There is a regulatory power under Article 21A (4) allowing the Government to mandate the frequency of this information. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the legislation to identify if such a mandate is necessary.
In addition, on 4 July 2025, the government published a consultation on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services which can be found on gov.uk here. This included proposals to give leaseholders the right to access specific information relating to the condition of their building, including on fire safety. The consultation closed on 26 September 2025, and we are analysing responses.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of access of leaseholders to information about fire safety.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, there is a requirement on responsible persons (those responsible for fire safety such as a building owner, landlord or managing agent) to undertake and record a fire risk assessment for their premises. Article 21A also makes clear that the responsible person must communicate the risks identified in the fire risk assessment to residents (including whenever this is updated). They are not required to share the whole assessment as there is an expectation that they summarise the risks given the potentially technical nature of the assessment.
Fire and rescue services are not in a position to compel responsible persons to share the whole fire risk assessment and the Government does not hold data on enforcement or breaches of Article 21A. If the risks highlighted in the assessment are not being shared with residents they should request this from their responsible person, and if they continue to not receive this information then they could report this to their fire and rescue service.
In guidance we publish on these requirements, titled Check your fire safety responsibilities under Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022, we advise that those responsible for fire safety communicate this information alongside the instructions to residents on what to do in the event of a fire which they are required to provide on an annual basis. This advice is repeated in the statutory guidance on fire safety in blocks of flats which we aim to publish in the first half of 2026.
There is a regulatory power under Article 21A (4) allowing the Government to mandate the frequency of this information. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the legislation to identify if such a mandate is necessary.
In addition, on 4 July 2025, the government published a consultation on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services which can be found on gov.uk here. This included proposals to give leaseholders the right to access specific information relating to the condition of their building, including on fire safety. The consultation closed on 26 September 2025, and we are analysing responses.
Asked by: Nick Timothy (Conservative - West Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what guidance her Department has issued to fire and rescue services on safety standards in relation to 5G masts.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has not issued guidance on fire safety standards for 5G masts and does not have responsibility for setting such standards. Mobile network operators are responsible for the operation, maintenance and safety of their infrastructure. The Department engages regularly with mobile network operators in relation to resilience of network infrastructure.
Rules relating to fire risk and 5G infrastructure is covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Asked by: Ben Coleman (Labour - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that all disabled people in social housing have personal emergency evacuation plans.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
We are committed to improving systems that enable fire safety and evacuation of disabled and vulnerable residents in all high-rise and higher-risk residential buildings. On 4 July, the government laid The Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 in Parliament, which will come into force on 6 April 2026.
Under the new regulations, residents with disabilities or impairments will be entitled to personal assessments designed to identify necessary equipment and adjustments that aid their fire safety and evacuation. Fire and Rescue Services will also receive information on vulnerable residents, where the individual resident agrees to the information being shared, in case they need to support their evacuation.
The government has committed funding this year to support social housing providers to deliver Residential PEEPs for their renters. Future years’ funding will be confirmed in due course.
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes in the number of (a) firefighter posts since 2010, (b) (i) fire stations and (ii) control rooms and (c) fire engines on the frontline on (A) levels of public safety and (B) response times; and if he will make it his policy to (1) prevent reductions to fire and rescue services, (2) provide more funding for frontline resources and (3) introduce national response standards to ensure consistent protection.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government acknowledges the vital contributions made by fire and rescue services. Decisions on how their resources are best deployed are a matter for each fire and rescue authority (FRA) as employer, based on its analysis of risk and local circumstances.
Priorities for fire and rescue reform are subject to regular discussion with sector representatives through the Ministerial Advisory Group on Fire and Rescue Reform (MAGFRR) and other relevant forums.
The MAGFRR, established by this Government, serves as a platform for engaging with senior leaders across the sector to address policy challenges. Delivering on manifesto and other commitments, reform priorities endorsed by the Group aim to support FRAs’ drive to modernise fire and rescue services to ensure they are equipped to meet the evolving needs of communities. The Government remains committed to working collaboratively with all sector partners to drive meaningful change and ensure fire and rescue services have the resources they need to keep the public safe.
Asked by: Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op) - Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the (a) standard and (b) capacity of custody cells in Greater Manchester.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Police custody is overseen by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS). HMICFRS published its most recent custody inspection report into Greater Manchester Police’s custody provision on 8 February 2023. The report identified six causes of concern and 13 areas for improvement, including one area for improvement focused on the safety and environment of the custody suites. A further review in December 2023 led HMICFRS to take the view that, in light of the progress that the force had made, the six areas of causes of concern could be reduced to the less serious category of areas for improvement.
National standards for police custody design, construction and refurbishment of police custody suites in England and Wales are set out in the Home Office Police Custody Design Guide, which provides guidance and national standards for police forces to adopt regarding police custody design and construction along with the refurbishment of existing suites.
Policing is operationally independent of Government. Chief Constables and elected Police and Crime Commissioners are responsible and accountable for the operational management of their force and for local resourcing and estates, including custody suites.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure consistency in enforcement of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 across different Fire and Rescue Authorities.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The department works with the National Fire Chiefs Council to update national guidance and support fire and rescue services’ protection departments to enforce our fire safety laws effectively.
The department recently issued a guidance supplement updating guidance to enforcing authorities at Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005: enforcement - GOV.UK.
Fire and rescue authorities are required to have regard to this guidance in their enforcement approach, however specific enforcement decisions are based on the circumstances of each case.
Asked by: Liz Jarvis (Liberal Democrat - Eastleigh)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing a national fire and rescue service statutory advisory body to oversee national standards on (a) fire cover, (b) training, (c) equalities and (d) health and safety.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government has accepted, in principle, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s recommendation to establish a national college of fire and rescue. The Inquiry report suggested a range of potential functions for a college to fulfil, including the development of policies and procedures to ensure both the effectiveness of fire and rescue services and the safety of firefighters and the public.
The government response to the Inquiry’s report notes that a necessary first step in the process will be to consult on the functions a college should have, what these functions should look like and how the college could best be structured and delivered. We expect to launch this consultation in the coming months.
Any future college function relating to national standards would build on the work already undertaken by the Fire Standards Board (FSB), which currently develops and maintains a suite of professional standards for fire and rescue services in England. The 19 standards currently published by the FSB cover a range of topics relating to operational management, leadership and ethics.