25 July 2004 - Fire and Rescue Services Bill Receives Royal Assent
Said to be the most important piece of new fire legislation in 50 years, the The Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 has received Royal Assent and will replace the Fire Services Act 1947. The Act is also said to "drive forward the Government's modernisation agenda to create a modern and efficient Fire and Rescue Service designed to meet the challenges of the 21st Century."
The new Act now places on a statutory footing other activities the Fire Service has taken on over the last 50 years, beyond firefighting, since the previous legislation was put in place, including rescue from road traffic accidents, responding to serious environmental disasters, such as flooding, and the new terrorist threat.
Promoting fire safety will become a statutory duty for all fire and rescue authorities.
Fire and Rescue Service Minister Nick Raynsford commented:
"This
new Act, along with publication of the first Fire and Rescue National
Framework and a generous settlement for Fire and Rescue Authorities
announced in the 2004 Comprehensive Spending Review, provides the
leadership, resources and modern statutory framework we promised to provide.
It is now up to Fire and Rescue Authorities to deliver.
"Our main priority is to save more lives and reduce injuries from fire - and
the Act paves the way towards this goal by placing a greater emphasis on
fire safety.
"In addition, the important wider role the Service plays to make communities
safer - such as dealing with road traffic accidents and responding to the
greater threat posed by terrorism and environmental disasters such as
serious flooding - will be placed on a proper statutory footing for the
first time."
Alan Doig, President of the Chief Fire Officers' Association also commented:
"CFOA welcomes the new Act which will provide an effective legislative framework for the delivery of a modern fire and service."
The Act places a duty on the Government to keep the Framework up-to-date and report against it at least once every two years, and also provides a power to ensure that fire and rescue authorities have regard to the strategic priorities, objectives and guidance set out in the Framework.
The final version of the Fire and Rescue Services Bill can be found by clicking here.
The Act will also appear soon on the website of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office
