Proposals to privatise fire services condemned by Scunthorpe MP Nic Dakin
Nic Dakin, the Member of Parliament for Scunthorpe, has condemned government proposals to allow fire services to be privatised.
A letter from fire minister Brandon Lewis to the chair of the House of Commons Regulatory Reform Committee has revealed that the government is set to put forward proposals that would mean fire and rescue authorities in England could contract out their full range of services to private companies.
This would mean that over 1200 staff and 30 fire stations in the Humberside region could be employed and run by a private company.
The minister is seeking to push the changes through the little-known Regulatory Reform Committee, avoiding full Parliamentary scrutiny.
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Mr Dakin said: "I resolutely oppose the government's plans to allow fire services to be sold off. Local people need to have confidence that fire-fighting in our area is being run for public protection, not company profit.
"Fire and rescue is an essential service which we all depend on for our safety and sometimes our lives. This letter shows the huge risks that ministers are preparing to take with this vital public service.
"Our experience with the Olympics was a forceful lesson that private firms often cost more and deliver less than promised when they bid to take over public services. I will be making my voice heard to campaign for a fire service that puts the public first."
Fire minister Brandon Lewis has responded to claims that the government is considering the privatisation of the fire service stating it is "entirely untrue".
Fire minister Brandon Lewis said: "Any attempt to characterise local plans for an employee-led mutual as privatisation are completely misleading. Public safety is always our first concern and we continue to work with fire and rescue authorities to ensure they provide the most efficient and effective frontline fire service there can be.
"Fire and rescue authorities will remain statutorily responsible for this public service and to suggest otherwise is completely wrong. The government does support co-operatives and employee ownership. We are keen to work with local authorities and their staff wanting to explore the scope for employee-led mutuals where there is local support and backing."
Francis Maude, minister for the cabinet office, said: "Mutuals end the old binary choice between state and privately run public services. This is about frontline staff taking control and having power to do their jobs how they know is best. Across the public sector thousands of employees are forming mutuals and taking control because they're fed up with the wasteful bureaucracy imposed on them by the state and know they can do better. Cleveland Fire Brigade is exploring plans motivated entirely by their determination to protect and grow services for local people."
9 Comments
by Fltsgnt
Thursday, February 28 2013, 4:09PM
“I love people who comment on such important matters without any underpinning knowledge. Crickfan, you too could have another job if you were prepared to work through the night twice a week to do it and the reason they do have a second job is because the salary is so bad. £28k is okay up here but try living on that in the south east as it is a national wage with only London getting any form of weighting. So in reality they are subsidising the fire service by working hard, surely that should be applauded, if you ban their 2nd jobs they would have to have a pay rise. Secondly what do you want them to do at 3am when they have no emergency? Perhaps they should come and train outside your house. By having a rest period on their 15 hour night shift this cuts down the number of people needed to be employed and so further reduces costs. These are not just water squirters anymore but technical and professional people who deserve better treatment and some respect. They are regularly voted the most respected and trusted profession, a fact that would change as quick as you can say G4S if they were privatised. I just wish I was good enough to be one.”
by crickfan
Friday, February 22 2013, 8:32PM
“@ therover - I am able to form my own opinions but thanks for your concern. I know, and have known, plenty of firemen over the years and most of them have been able to run another business in line with their fire brigade job. In towns such as this, many shifts are spent asleep etc. I have respect for what they do but they've not exactly had it hard.”
by IT_MAN
Friday, February 22 2013, 7:52PM
“If all properties including social housing tenants had to have fire insurance by law then the fire service could charge the insurance company for a call out. If your cat is stuck in your chimney or up a tree and you want it rescued you should have to pay, rescue units sent to road accidents could be billed to car insurers, it's the way to make people more responcible, insurers shoud refuse to pay out for fires called by old type chip pans, safer deep fryers are so cheap to buy now.
Watch out they could fit card readers into ambulances to pay for callout before they take you to hospital. after all goverment grant to council should be cut bu amount the goverment lose by salary sacrifice for council staff to buy new cars by avoiding part of their income tax and NI contributions also the employers contributions.”
by therover
Friday, February 22 2013, 7:09PM
“Crickfan obviously knows the fire service inside out. Or is the information come from the spin read in the press. Underpaid and undervalued comes to mind when I think of the Fire Service. Think of MPs working practices before judging others.”
by crickfan
Friday, February 22 2013, 6:44PM
“Perhaps if the Fire Brigade Union hadn't been such a thorn in the side of successive Governments, trying to defend their ridiculous working practices, this would not even be being considered. Donlt get me wrong, i'm opposed to this idea but firemen have had it far too easy for far too long and need to fall into line with the rest of the working world.”
by sirjulian
Friday, February 22 2013, 2:50PM
“Even more disconcerting than this outrageous proposal itself, is the devious and underhand manner in which the Minister seeks to implement his proposals by circumventing due process and bypass any Parliamentary scrutiny. Such opportunism also undermines the Localism Act, which was introduced to devolve more powers to local authorities and the communities that they serve, supposedly giving people at a local level greater say in matters that affect them. No one has asked me what my views are about sellling off the local Fire and Rescue Services, but when they do I shall answer politely but firmly: "Not in my name".”
by sirjulian
Friday, February 22 2013, 2:46PM
“Even more disconcerting than this outrageous proposal itself, is the devious and underhand manner in which the Minister seeks to implement his proposals by circumventing due process and bypass any Parliamentary scrutiny. Such opportunism also undermines the Localism Act, which was introduced to devolve more powers to local authorities and the communities that they serve, supposedly giving people at a local level greater say in matters that affect them. No one has asked me what my views are about sellling off the local Fire and Rescue Services, but when they do I shall answer politely but firmly: "Not in my name".”
by AndrewCappEsq
Friday, February 22 2013, 1:21PM
“Sorry folks, this is the link to 38 degrees petition. Please do sign. Thanks
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/stop-fire-service-privatisation#petition”
by AndrewCappEsq
Friday, February 22 2013, 1:09PM
“I agree that wholesale privatisation of any of our emergency services is fraught with disaster. Prescott's and Labours FiReControl project fiasco aptly proves the point.
Please do sign the petition against fire service privatisation: The 38 Degrees campaign has very helpfully launched a petition.
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BUT having said that and done our bit! The shameless audacity of Labour's hypocrisy and desperation just knows no bounds does it?!
I don't recall Nic Dakin and indeed any of Scunthorpe's Labourites making their voices heard during 13 years of the last Labour Government's demoralisation and its backdoor, creeping privatisation of our Fire Services!?
Community Fire Stations built under PFI schemes; several brigades' forced into leasing schemes for supply and servicing of their fleets of fire and rescue appliances etc etc.
More importantly, there wasn't a peep from Nic Dakin and any of his merry dimwits while Prescott was putting the public's and firefighters' safety at risk with his £500 million (and still counting) FiReControl Project fiasco. A doomed scheme that was riven with private contractors, management consultants etc etc:
http://tinyurl.com/apzgqyr
Stop insulting our intelligence. This is all blatant and desperate opportunism on Liebours part; nothing more and nothing less.
PS Ofsted seemingly was not far off the mark when it reported on the INADEQUATE leadership, performance and judgmnent of the management at John Leggot College on Nic Dakin's watch!! ;-)”