Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what risk assessment he has made of the proposed merger of the Dorset and Wiltshire fire services.

None. The Government supports voluntary mergers between fire and rescue authorities where proposals have been consulted on and have local support. In the case of Dorset and Wiltshire, the Secretary of State was satisfied that the merger proposal put forward by the elected members of both authorities was in the interests of economy, efficiency and effectiveness and public safety.

It is a matter for elected members of the new Dorset and Wiltshire fire and rescue authority to consider the effect on services. The business case for the Dorset and Wiltshire merger was subject to local consultation and, in due course, the approach to service delivery will be set out in a new Integrated Risk Management Plan. The authority will prepare this Plan taking account of advice from senior fire service professionals, and the views of the local community who must be consulted.