Impact of funding reductions on fire and rescue services explored
25 November 2015
Public Accounts Committee takes evidence examining the impact of funding reductions on the effectiveness of fire and rescue services.
- Watch Parliament TV: Financial sustainability of fire and rescue services
- Inquiry: Financial sustainability of fire and rescue services
- Public Accounts Committee
Witnesses
Thursday 26 November 2015, Committee Room 15, Palace of Westminster
At 10am
- Sir Ken Knight, former Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser
- Jeremy Hilton, Chair, LGA fire services management committee
- Paul Hancock, President, Chief Fire Officers Association/Chief Fire Officer for Cheshire
At 10.30am
From Department of Communities and Local Government:
- Melanie Dawes, Permanent Secretary
- Neil O'Connor, Director of Fire Resilience and Emergencies
- Peter Holland, Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser
Background
The number of fires and related casualties have been on a long-term downward trend, as has funding for fire and rescue authorities. Concerns have been raised that capacity to respond to major incidents might be compromised by further funding reductions.
Chair's comments
Commenting on a National Audit Office report on fire and rescue service sustainability, PAC Chair Meg Hillier MP described the Department for Communities and Local Government's understanding of the pressures now facing those services as "seriously flawed".
She added: "Without this understanding, further efficiency savings could put services at risk, potentially putting lives at risk."
Further information
Image: iStockphoto
Video: Parliamentary copyright