To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 7 July 2009, Official Report, column 706W, on fire services: equality, whether any Fire and Rescue Services have targets to increase recruitment of Travellers. (311742)

Fire and rescue services have not been set any targets for the recruitment of Travellers.

The ‘Fire and Rescue Service Equality and Diversity Strategy’ published in May 2008 made it clear that all services in England are expected to promote equality and to seek to improve the diversity within their work force in order to better reflect the communities they serve.