Let me start by saying that I greatly value the work firefighters do, often selflessly putting themselves in danger to keep us and our families safe. I know that the Government is grateful for the work fire and rescue services do in their communities.
Regarding investment, I understand that fire and rescue authorities are receiving around £2.6 billion in 2023-24. Standalone fire and rescue authorities are seeing an increase in core spending power of 8.1 per cent in cash terms compared to 2022-23. On firefighters’ pay, the National Joint Council is responsible for overseeing decisions on pay and terms and conditions. However, I note that the Government’s Fire Reform White Paper set out proposals to conduct an independent review of the current pay negotiation process and consider its suitability for a modern emergency service.
While I appreciate your concern, I do not believe it is necessary to introduce a statutory duty for firefighters to respond to flooding, given that fire and rescue authorities already have the power to respond to all kinds of emergencies for which they do not have a specific statutory duty, including flooding. The Government supports this by providing fire and rescue services with additional resources to tackle flooding such as high-volume pumps and water rescue assets.
Some of the issues you raise, such as the firefighters’ pension scheme, are matters for individual employing fire and rescue authorities. It is also for individual fire and rescue authorities, as employers with responsibility for health and wellbeing, to ensure that firefighters receive the appropriate equipment and training they need to safely respond to the wide range of incidents which they attend. I completely agree with you about the importance of the health and safety of firefighters, and I am pleased that the Home Office provides significant grant funding to the National Fire Chiefs Council programmes including work that specifically focuses on the health and wellbeing of firefighters.
While I appreciate that this may not be the exact response you were hoping for, I do hope that I have been able to provide you with some assurance.