Fire Services

Mr. Drew
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps she is taking to clarify the role of firefighters in co-responding following judgment in the recent Nottinghamshire case.

Angela E. Smith
Co-responding offers tremendous benefits to the public and the fire sendee and the scheme is working well in other parts of the country. As Nottingham and Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Authorities have been given leave to appeal on this specific case it would not be inappropriate for me to comment on this case. I very much hope that the differences between the employers and the Fire Brigades Union can be resolved through negotiation.