Government welcomes audit report on fire and rescue service

Published	17 December 2008

The Audit Commission's study published today acknowledges the rapid change England's Fire and Rescue Service has undergone in the last decade and that overall, performance by the fire and rescue service is good.

The Government today welcomed this report and agreed there is more to be done and that it will continue to work with the Fire and Rescue Service to deliver further improvements.

Considerable efficiency savings of £197.3million against a target of £105m in SR04 have been achieved. The Commission's report confirms these savings have been achieved at the same time as the service has helped deliver the lowest level of fire deaths in the UK since 1959.

Fire Minister Sadiq Khan said:

"I am pleased that the Audit Commission's report recognises the good work of the Fire service.

"We will continue to challenge those failing to make good progress on efficiency and work with the Fire and Rescue Service to recognise and spread good practice and innovation.

"However, we share the Audit Commission's view that a more representative workforce would assist the service to connect with the different communities most at risk from fire. We are working with the FRS and investing £2million to achieve better progress. Equality and diversity needs to be embedded in every aspect of the Fire and Rescue Service's work."

The Government supports the Commission's main findings which include:

the significant efficiency savings achieved in SR04 vary considerably between fire and rescue authorities and that there is still significant scope for efficiencies nationally
there is no common relationship between the size, governance structure or locality in determining successful delivery - all fire and rescue authorities are capable of achieving excellence
improved regional and local collaboration will lead to greater efficiencies and effectiveness.

Notes to editors

1. Audit Commission National Study - Fire Modernisation is available on the website www.audit-commission.gov.uk/ PDF (external link).

2. The Audit Commission's study focuses on the efficiency of the FRS, including progress in key areas of modernisation and equality and diversity. The Commission's last national study in 1995 on the FRS, In the Line of Fire, recommended a range of new measures which have since been adopted, including the principal one of moving to a proactive fire prevention regime. The Audit Commission is independent of Government and is responsible for the performance assessment of local authorities and, since 2004, fire and rescue authorities.

3. Communities and Local Government News release, 4 December 2008, FRS Operational Statistics 2007/08 www.communities.gov.uk/news/fire/1086528.

4. Latest provisional fire figures for England - News release, 21 November 2008, Fire Statistics Monitor for year ending 31 December 2008 www.communities.gov.uk/news/fire/1069119.