Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how she plans to consult local (a) residents, (b) councils and (c) hon. Members in assessing the business case for a Police and Crime Commissioner to take over responsibility for Fire and Rescue Services in the local area.

It is for directly elected PCCs to decide whether to bring forward a proposal to take on responsibility for their local fire and rescue service, demonstrating how to do so would be in the interests of economy, efficiency and effectiveness, or public safety. Where it appears to the Secretary of State that these tests have been met, the necessary secondary legislation will be drafted and laid in the House.

Before submitting a proposal, the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004, amended by the Policing and Crime Act 2017, requires PCCs to consult each relevant local authority, people in their local police force area and those appearing to represent employees and members of the police force who may be affected by the proposal.