You can download the pro forma letter lobbying MPs ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review via this page. Alternatively the text is pasted below.
Dear MP’s name,
I am writing to express my grave concerns, ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review, about further cuts to the fire and rescue service. Since 2010 central government has cut its funding to the service by almost a third. This has resulted in the loss of nearly 7,000 firefighters – that’s one in eight.
I am alarmed by the media reports that further cuts of 25% or even 40% are being considered across government departments. Cuts on this scale would decimate our fire and rescue service, putting public safety more than ever at risk and undermining our ability to deliver a first rate emergency response. Further cuts will increase damage to homes, properties and businesses. Evidence demonstrates clearly that this will cost lives.
Some have attempted to justify cuts by noting that the number of both fires and fire deaths are down. This is true, however firefighters now perform a much wider role in society. Recent research found that firefighters rescued over 38,000 people across the UK last year, however only 10% of these rescues were at fires. Firefighters respond to road traffic collisions, industrial disasters, flooding and chemical spillages as well as other major incidents such as terrorist attacks and civil disturbances.
The decline in the number of fires is a result of the positive work firefighters do in their communities to promote fire safety. A wide range of schemes have seen firefighters work with businesses, schools, the elderly and others to highlight the dangers of fires and how best to prevent them. More can be done but firefighters need the resources to be able to do this.
Discussions are currently taking place between the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and fire service employers through the National Joint Council (NJC) about the work firefighters do – and the work they could do in the future. These discussions are looking at five key issues:
• environmental challenges,
• emergency medical response,
• multi-agency response to terrorism,
• youth and social engagement work,
• inspections and enforcement.
Politicians rightly praise firefighters for the work they do, often putting their lives at risk to save others. Yet, too many of these politicians are prepared to cut the service at the same time. A recent YouGov survey found that 84% of the public opposed further cuts to the fire and rescue service. Firefighters provide an all hazard lifesaving, professional service that costs just £50 per person, per year.
Firefighting is about tackling the risks our communities face. Although fires are down, when there is a fire or a major incident we will always need firefighters to respond swiftly and with sufficient resources to carry out their job safely and effectively.
There are clearly debates about the structure of the service and what work firefighters do. Firefighters want to take part in this debate. However for this to happen, adequate funding must be available to genuinely modernise the service. In addition, the fire and rescue service must maintain its independence and remain a public service. National standards for the service must be set with an inspectorate to enforce them. The FBU’s recent response to the Comprehensive Spending Review expands on these points and makes the full case against any further cuts, it can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/FBUCSR.
The Comprehensive Spending Review must take into account the vital role firefighters play in our community. The work of firefighters is constantly evolving as the risks to our communities change. Firefighters want to play an active role in protecting our communities from the new risks they face. The government can assist this process by providing the service with a financial settlement for 2016-17 and 2017-18 that recognises these efforts at modernisation and the wider spill-over effects on other public services. Further austerity cuts will put this work into jeopardy. I urge you to raise these issues in parliament and to campaign for investment into the fire and rescue service.
I am keen to discuss these issues with you and would be available for a meeting at your earliest convenience.
Yours sincerely
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