Peter Gibson MP has raised the concerns of the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority in a debate on Fire Services in the North East in Parliament today (23/10/22).
Having met with the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority a week prior, Mr Gibson raised the concerns that the authority has regarding funding.
Currently, the authority receives two-thirds of its funding from local taxation and the income that can be raised through this does not cover current costs being incurred by the authority. Mr Gibson asked Sarah Dines MP, the Minister Safeguarding, to “outline what more the Government can do, as I know the service is asking for precept flexibility.”
Mr Gibson has also welcomed the publication of the Fire Reform White Paper. The proposals put forward, centre on people, professionalism, and governance and aim to strengthen the emergency services and ensure people feel safer in their homes. Again, Mr Gibson asked the Minister to respond to County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority’s concerns about Governance and the proposal to introduce a fire and rescue service oath.
Speaking during the debate Peter Gibson also took the opportunity to praise the work of the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority saying that they are “a vital emergency service, and I am hugely proud of the fantastic work all its staff do every day of the week, indeed the Service is recognised nationally as being extremely high performing, productive and efficient”.
Concluding his speech Mr Gibson reiterated his support for the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority saying, “I am pleased to have had the opportunity to raise my local fire and rescue service’s concerns today and I look forward to hearing the Ministers response.”
