To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of the income of each fire and rescue authority in England was from (a) central Government grant, (b) council tax and (c) other sources in the most recent year for which figures are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of the income of each fire and rescue authority in England was from (a) central Government grant, (b) council tax and (c) other sources in the most recent year for which figures are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the financial consequences for individual fire and rescue services in transferring control capabilities to regional fire control centres.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the financial consequences for individual fire and rescue services in transferring control capabilities to regional fire control centres.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total cost is of the FiReControl project (a) nationally and (b) in the West Midlands.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total cost is of the FiReControl project (a) nationally and (b) in the West Midlands.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his most recent estimate is of the transition cost of the FiReControl project.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his most recent estimate is of the transition cost of the FiReControl project.

I want to deal with some of the details, as that might answer a few of the issues that the hon. Gentleman wants to raise. The roles of the fire and rescue authorities are already defined. With regard to responding to emergencies, they have specific duties in relation to fires,...

I want to deal with some of the details, as that might answer a few of the issues that the hon. Gentleman wants to raise. The roles of the fire and rescue authorities are already defined. With regard to responding to emergencies, they have specific duties in relation to fires,...

The hon. Lady makes a good point but she anticipates what I am about to say. If she will bear with me, I promise that I will get to the matter that she raises. It has rightly been pointed out that the issue of a statutory duty was raised by...

The hon. Lady makes a good point but she anticipates what I am about to say. If she will bear with me, I promise that I will get to the matter that she raises. It has rightly been pointed out that the issue of a statutory duty was raised by...

I hope that the Minister will address two issues. First, the amendments rightly identify that there is no legal basis for expecting fire crews to turn out. That is addressed by the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 to some extent. The second problem, which follows on from that, is that the...

I hope that the Minister will address two issues. First, the amendments rightly identify that there is no legal basis for expecting fire crews to turn out. That is addressed by the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 to some extent. The second problem, which follows on from that, is that the...

I disagree fundamentally. Without veering too far off the subject of the amendments before us, I want to say that the Bill has two aspects. One is the clarity of lead responsibility, both locally and nationally, and the other is a duty to co-ordinate and share information as well as...

I disagree fundamentally. Without veering too far off the subject of the amendments before us, I want to say that the Bill has two aspects. One is the clarity of lead responsibility, both locally and nationally, and the other is a duty to co-ordinate and share information as well as...

I wish I shared the Minister's enthusiasm for the clarity of the Bill as drafted. It leaves plenty of scope for legal and budgetary rows between the Environment Agency and the principal council in each area under the consultative and committee structure that he has set down.

I wish I shared the Minister's enthusiasm for the clarity of the Bill as drafted. It leaves plenty of scope for legal and budgetary rows between the Environment Agency and the principal council in each area under the consultative and committee structure that he has set down.

Again, we have had a good and full debate. May I begin by thanking the hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) for his kind words about the work of the Environment Agency? We can always criticise the agency, but let me remind hon. Members that in Cumbria, where only...

Again, we have had a good and full debate. May I begin by thanking the hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) for his kind words about the work of the Environment Agency? We can always criticise the agency, but let me remind hon. Members that in Cumbria, where only...

I welcome the Minister's response, which I am finding extremely constructive. However, the power to which he refers is very specific and narrowly defined, in that it responds to a particular type of incident. We are seeking a more general and much broader duty on fire and rescue authorities to...

I welcome the Minister's response, which I am finding extremely constructive. However, the power to which he refers is very specific and narrowly defined, in that it responds to a particular type of incident. We are seeking a more general and much broader duty on fire and rescue authorities to...

I think that it would be helpful to sit down and go through these matters in advance of the Lords debate, to use my hon. Friend's phrase, to see whether there is a way forward. I often describe myself as the reluctant legislator, as I do not believe in introducing...

I think that it would be helpful to sit down and go through these matters in advance of the Lords debate, to use my hon. Friend's phrase, to see whether there is a way forward. I often describe myself as the reluctant legislator, as I do not believe in introducing...

In the time remaining—I thank right hon. and hon. Members for keeping their contributions short—I shall try to address as many points as I can. On new clause 10, as I explained in Committee we have set up a new Cabinet Office team to ensure that critical infrastructure—for example, power...

In the time remaining—I thank right hon. and hon. Members for keeping their contributions short—I shall try to address as many points as I can. On new clause 10, as I explained in Committee we have set up a new Cabinet Office team to ensure that critical infrastructure—for example, power...

I will ensure that my remarks are kept for that first meeting then and give other hon. Members the chance to speak now. This discussion has taken less than five minutes in a debate of five and a half hours, but if at the end of it we can help...

I will ensure that my remarks are kept for that first meeting then and give other hon. Members the chance to speak now. This discussion has taken less than five minutes in a debate of five and a half hours, but if at the end of it we can help...

Does my right hon. Friend agree that this Bill has been one of the most outstanding examples of co-operation with a devolved Administration? The co-operation started at the very beginning: it was not a bolt-on; it was an integral part of the whole discussion.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that this Bill has been one of the most outstanding examples of co-operation with a devolved Administration? The co-operation started at the very beginning: it was not a bolt-on; it was an integral part of the whole discussion.

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time. I thank hon. Members from all parts of the House for their contribution in helping the Bill to reach this stage, following the pre-legislative scrutiny that the right hon. Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack) so ably led....

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time. I thank hon. Members from all parts of the House for their contribution in helping the Bill to reach this stage, following the pre-legislative scrutiny that the right hon. Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack) so ably led....

I think I can do better than that. I applaud my right hon. Friend and others for pushing this issue heavily. I made the commitment in Committee that we would examine it, because we thought that there was a need to review how we provide insurance cover and so on....

I think I can do better than that. I applaud my right hon. Friend and others for pushing this issue heavily. I made the commitment in Committee that we would examine it, because we thought that there was a need to review how we provide insurance cover and so on....

Yes.

Yes.

So long as I am one of those interested MPs.

So long as I am one of those interested MPs.

I think that the hon. Gentleman and I are arguing the same case. I want the Minister to confirm that the guidance is ready to go. Those in the industry—not the small contractors but the large water and sewerage companies—are saying to us that they would like to be consulted...

I think that the hon. Gentleman and I are arguing the same case. I want the Minister to confirm that the guidance is ready to go. Those in the industry—not the small contractors but the large water and sewerage companies—are saying to us that they would like to be consulted...