Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment the Government has made of the potential for efficiencies from closer working between the ambulance and fire services; and if he will make a statement.

The Government’s continued ambition is for greater collaboration between fire and local authorities and between fire, police and ambulance services to deliver a more efficient and effective service for the public. My Department has made available a significant amount of funding to fire and rescue authorities in 2015-16 for this purpose injecting over £65 million to support collaboration projects.

Our goal is to improve outcomes for the public through closer joint working across all the emergency services, including the NHS ambulance service. My Department in conjunction with the Home office and the Department of Health is currently consulting on the Government's manifesto commitment of enabling closer working between emergency services.