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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress his Department has made on considering (a) the establishment of a research college and (b) the implementation of an Areas of Research Interest approach to support research and innovation in fire and rescue services.

The Government recognises the importance of research and innovation in supporting effective fire and rescue services.

The Government accepted the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s recommendation to establish a College of Fire and Rescue. The Inquiry envisaged that the College could provide national training and education, undertake research, support the development of equipment, policies and procedures, and set and maintain standards of managerial competence.

Work is under way to develop proposals for the College and Ministers have engaged sector stakeholders, including through the Ministerial Advisory Group on Fire and Rescue Reform (MAGFRR) established in December 2024, as part of its commitment to work formally with all stakeholders across the fire and rescue sector to inform policy. The consultation on a College of Fire and Rescue launched on 20 May and seeks views on the College’s aims, functions and delivery model, including a research function.