Fire and Rescue Services: Rural Areas
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that rural fire services are adequately resourced to respond to emergencies in isolated areas.
Answered by Dame Diana Johnson
The final Local Government Settlement 2024/25 has determined that overall fire and rescue authorities will receive around £2.87 billion this year to continue protecting our communities at the highest standard. Standalone Fire and Rescue Authorities including Dorset and Wiltshire will see an increase in core spending power of £95.4 million in 2024/25. This is an increase of 5.6 per cent in cash terms compared to 2023/24.
It is the responsibility of each fire and rescue authority to determine how to allocate that funding based on its analysis of risk and local circumstances. Funding allocations for 2025/26 will be set out at the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement next month.
In the meantime, the Government will continue to work closely with stakeholders across the sector to ensure fire and rescue services have the resources they need to keep the public safe.
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