2006 No. 1084

FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES, ENGLAND

The Fire and Rescue Services (National Framework) (England) Order 2006

Made

Laid before Parliament

Coming into force

The First Secretary of State, in exercise of the power conferred by section 21(6) of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 20041, makes the following Order:

Citation, commencement and application1

1

This Order may be cited as the Fire and Rescue Services (National Framework) (England) Order 2006 and shall come into force on 10th May 2006.

2

This Order shall apply in relation to fire and rescue authorities in England only.

The Fire and Rescue National Framework2

The Fire and Rescue National Framework prepared by the First Secretary of State and entitled “The Fire and Rescue National Framework 2006/08” which was published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 6th April 2006 shall have effect as a revision, which appears to the Secretary of State to be significant, of the Fire and Rescue National Framework 2005/062.

Signed by authority of the First Secretary of State

Jim FitzpatrickParliamentary Under Secretary of StateOffice of the Deputy Prime Minister

(This note is not part of the Order)

Section 21 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 requires the Secretary of State to prepare a Fire and Rescue National Framework setting out the priorities and objectives for fire and rescue authorities and providing guidance. Fire and rescue authorities must have regard to the Framework in carrying out their functions.

Article 2 of this Order, which applies in relation to fire and rescue authorities in England only, substitutes the 2006/08 Framework for the 2005/06 Framework. The 2006/08 Framework will have effect from 10th May 2006. The 2005/06 Framework was given effect by S.I.2004/3217.

The principal differences are:

amendments refer to the financial year 2006/07. For example, Chapter 7 contains information concerning the Revenue Support Grant that fire and rescue authorities will receive for 2006/07.

changes reflecting progress since the 2005/6 National Framework. For example, the new Children and Young People’s Strategy 2006-2010 is to be published in the third or fourth quarter of 2006, changes to the role of Regional Management Boards, the new arrangements for fire-fighter selection from September 2007 and the new Learning and Development Strategy published in November 2005.

changes that take account of comments received in response to consultation. For example, more detail on the process that will follow the Fire and Rescue Comprehensive Performance Assessment, and an updated position on the coming into force of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Copies of the 2006/08 Framework may be obtained from ODPM Free Literature, PO Box 236, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 7NB (telephone: 0870 1226 236; fax: 0870 1226 237; email: odpm@twoten.press.net ). It is also available on the ODPM website: www.odpm.gov.uk/fire.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no direct impact on the costs of business, voluntary bodies or the public sector. An assessment was prepared for the relevant constituents of the Framework which did have such an impact.