Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of support available to fire and rescue services who attend callouts to attempted suicides.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The health and wellbeing of firefighters is of the utmost importance. The Government recognises the risks that firefighters face and is grateful to them for their bravery.
As the employer of fire and rescue service personnel, Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs) are ultimately responsible for the health and wellbeing of firefighters. The government-issued National Framework directs that all FRAs should have a people strategy which sets out the mental and physical health and wellbeing support available to firefighters.
The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) supports good mental health in fire and rescue services as one aspect of its Health and Wellbeing Framework. They are currently consulting on a suicide prevention tool kit for the fire and rescue service workforce, supported through the NFCC grant provided by Government.
National organisations such as the Fire Fighters Charity and Mind also offer valuable support to individuals and services. Their resources can assist FRAs in developing local approaches to managing mental health risks and promoting the wellbeing of their workforce.
The health and wellbeing support provided by Fire and Rescue Services is considered by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services in the course of their inspections.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of suicide prevention training provided to fire and rescue staff.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The health and wellbeing of firefighters is of the utmost importance. The Government recognises the risks that firefighters face and is grateful to them for their bravery.
As the employer of fire and rescue service personnel, Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs) are ultimately responsible for the health and wellbeing of firefighters. The government-issued National Framework directs that all FRAs should have a people strategy which sets out the mental and physical health and wellbeing support available to firefighters.
The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) supports good mental health in fire and rescue services as one aspect of its Health and Wellbeing Framework. They are currently consulting on a suicide prevention tool kit for the fire and rescue service workforce, supported through the NFCC grant provided by Government.
National organisations such as the Fire Fighters Charity and Mind also offer valuable support to individuals and services. Their resources can assist FRAs in developing local approaches to managing mental health risks and promoting the wellbeing of their workforce.
The health and wellbeing support provided by Fire and Rescue Services is considered by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services in the course of their inspections.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
What plans he has to ensure that local communities are fully consulted on planning matters.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
Our reforms will ensure that there is more engagement and more local democracy. By replacing lengthy documents with easily accessible digital tools and map-based local plans, people will be able to visualise local plans and participate more fully in the planning system.
Communities will still be able to comment on planning applications. We also want neighbourhood plans to remain a key part of the planning system, with more in northern and urban areas.