Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the Government's policy is on steps to increase cooperation between police forces and fire services.

The Government is committed to supporting the police and fire services to work more closely together. The Policing and Crime Bill includes a duty to collaborate and enables Police and Crime Commissioners to make the case to take on responsibility for fire and rescue locally, extending the benefits of directly elected, accountable leadership and driving collaboration.