Government Playing 'Russian Roulette' With Fire Cuts
A Union's claiming the Government is playing 'Russian Roulette' with lives - as Fire Cheifs try to save £11m from their budget
The Fire Brigades Union says the savings which Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service have to make within the next 4 years could have a devestating impact.
Wirral West MP Margaret Greenwood will lead a debate 8at Westminster on the funding of the service on Merseyside today and the Home Office Minister responsible for fire and rescue services, Mike Penning MP, will respond for the Government. The central government grant for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has been cut by 32% between 2011-12 and 2015-16. It is now faced with having to make additional savings of £11 million over the next 4 years.
Aintree, Kensington, Wallasey and Crosby could be stations that are in the firing line for potential closure.
It comes as the Home Office says they want to see Police and Crime Commisoners take responsibilty for their local services.
Minister for Policing, Fire, Criminal Justice and Victims, Mike Penning, said:
“As a former firefighter and now Minister for Policing and Fire, I know from first-hand experience how well the police and fire and rescue service can work together. We believe that better joint working can strengthen the emergency services, deliver significant savings and produce benefits for the public.
“Strong leadership will be required to drive greater efficiencies and improved outcomes. Directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners are clearly accountable to the public and have a strong incentive to pursue ambitious reform and deliver value for money. We will enable them to take on responsibility for fire and rescue services where a local case is made.
“This is about smarter working. It simply doesn’t make sense for emergency services to have different premises, different back offices and different IT systems when their work is so closely related and they often share the same boundaries.
“The Government has already invested over £80 million in collaboration projects and local areas have shown the benefits of joint working between the emergency services - but there is more to be done and this legislation will enable that.”