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New government, new association… who’s listening? |
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The fire protection industry and government came together late last year in one of the liveliest fire seminars in recent years. Sponsored by the All-Party Parliamentary Fire Safety and Rescue Group and supported by the Fire Industry Association, the event covered the whole range of fire protection issues
THE SEMINAR WAS TOUTED AS AN opportunity to develop new policies and fresh links with government. That will only happen, one suspects, if such meetings are allowed to continue in the same climate of open and honest exchanges. Highlights included:
• UK Fire plc has been let down by government indecision over export funding, reported Wilf Butcher, Fire Industry Association Export Manager. Mr Butcher’s closing comments were most pertinent to the day’s proceedings when he told delegates: “Wise is the government who listens to that which it doesn’t want to hear.”
• FIRE correspondent Mike Fordham and the Federation of British Fire Organisation’s Secretary Ronnie King bemoaned the Integrated Clothing Project’s roll-out and Firebuy’s lack of clarity of key procurement issues.
• To get the ball rolling Fordham even challenged London Fire Brigade Commissioner Ron Dobson on the emphasis on firefighter safety.
• Paul Everall, Chief Executive of the District Surveyors Association, outlined the demands and challenges of Building Control, hinting that the fire safety community should be most concerned about the ever-decreasing emphasis on fire safety.
By close of play Mike Wood, Chair Fire Safety Development Group, surmised the jousting in something less than optimistic terms. He suggested that the fire safety community needs to work closer together and there should be a holistic approach to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (see pg 46). He reiterated Wilf Butcher’s comments on the inadequate support of government for Britain’s fire exporters, which fades into insignificance compared to EU competitors.
The wide sweep of subjects exposed gaps in a variety of fire issues, which one suspects, is not fully comprehended within government. The special report from the All-Party Group included as an accompaniment to this issue of FIRE provides more detail on the various perspectives and may serve as a template for future circulation of vital information.
Challenges
Back to the day, and Mike Fordham was first in following Commissioner Ron Dobson’s presentation on IRMPs. He asked why Cmsr Dobson had listed the achievements of London Fire Brigade without relating to firefighter safety, asking: “Is it legitimate to increase the risk to firefighters to increase the safety of the public?” Cmsr Dobson was resolute in response that firefighters are always considered as part of any development. “We want to improve firefighter safety through safer systems of working,” he emphasised, adding that if IRMPs are implemented in the right way they should ensure societal risks are decreased. “It is about finding the right balance on how much you can do. There are a range of risks and we need to identify resources so we can train firefighters appropriately.”
In his presentation Cmsr Dobson had commended the progress of IRMPs to date. The next step, he maintained, is to address local and national levels of risks such as simultaneous terrorist attacks. “The Fire and Rescue Service can and does respond well on a national basis but there needs to be a greater level of integration to ensure local IRMPs can respond appropriately.” During the debate on ‘Fire Issues of Common Concern’ Ronnie King, voicing concern about funding, asked Firebuy’s Chief Executive Terry Brewer if the fire sector is putting a lot of effort into something that is “not going to make it”. Mr Brewer emphasised that funding arrangements are under discussion and in terms of income projection and expenditure, everything is according to schedule. Fordham raised the thorny issue of innovation and risk analysis with the prospect of a preferred bidder holding a contract for 15 years, thus possibly stifling research and development. Mr Brewer said that many parts of the contract, such as gloves and boots, are subject to constant review and technical refreshment at the midpoint. He said companies would continue to innovate and listen to FRS needs. Whilst ICP has come under a great deal of scrutiny of late, export support has been diminishing beneath the radar. Wilf Butcher emphasised the pivotal role of the UK fire industry in harmonising European standards and investing millions in testing procedures. At the same time he pointed out that fire has been landed with police and security at number 35 in the order of importance by UK Trade and Industry.
“In the last year government funding all but dried up,” he reported. “The overseas missions were entirely funded by the Fire Export Council.” Worryingly, he stated that no export was supported centrally and support overseas is charged by embassies. “For the next financial year there is zero funding,” he told delegates. In comparison, at a recent fire exhibition in Dubai, Germany had over 300 exhibitors to the UK’s 52. “Exporting is a partnership between government and industry that is inextricably connected. Government shouldn’t lose sight and should listen to the people who know and understand export. All we are asking for is a level playing field, not preferential treatment.” FIRE looks forward to government engaging wholly with the fire community to ensure the confusion exposed during debate is eradicated in future programmes.
(See accompanying supplement for speakers’ presentations). |
