Dear Brother/Sister
Fire and Rescue (England): Ministerial Advisory Group
The FBU has made consistent criticism of the level of localisation and fragmentation in the fire and
rescue service. We have argued and campaigned for the (re-)introduction of national standards. The
union has also argued for a new national advisory body to assist in the development of such
standards and to advise on the major strategic challenges facing our service.
These demands were a feature of our work prior to the recent General Election, and we were able to
convince the Labour Party to make pledges on these two important issues. I am therefore pleased to
report that the first meeting of a new Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) will take place on Wednesday
4th December. This meeting is convened by Diana Johnson MP, Minister of State. It is important to
note that since fire is a devolved matter, this advisory group relates to fire and rescue matters in
England. Nevertheless, the FBU and others will need to assess and discuss the implications of policy
developments for all services across the UK and for the devolved governments and their relevant
ministers.
This is an initial meeting. I will attend as a full member of the new MAG, invited as General Secretary
of the FBU. We shall circulate further details of the structure and areas for discussion in due course.
It is welcome that the new Westminster government has begun to implement this element of the
pledges made prior to the election in relation to fire and rescue policy. No doubt there will be much
debate and disagreement about the areas of policy which should be covered. However, this is an
important opportunity and an important opening after two decades of ‘localism’ and the resulting
fragmentation of our service. Fragmentation has helped to create a destructive ‘race to the bottom’ to
emerge. The result has been the undermining of our profession and of the service provided to the
public.
FBU members will appreciate that such meetings do not guarantee that any improvements will be
delivered. Nevertheless, this meeting and the new MAG offers our union the opportunity to make our
professional case in a new national forum which has been missing for two decades.
I will report further on the structure of the MAG and the issues to be addressed.
Yours in unity,
Matt Wrack
General Secretary
