VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Fire and Rescue Services: Surrey Heath

Asked by Dr Al PinkertonLiberal DemocratMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 25 June 2026UIN 10792

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help improve response times to fires in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

Fire and rescue services in England are locally led, with statutory responsibility for operational response resting with fire and rescue authorities. It is for each authority to determine how resources are deployed, including station locations, crewing and appliance availability, informed by its assessment of local risk and demand through its Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP). This includes setting appropriate targets for local response times.

While it is not for central government to intervene in local operational decisions, we will continue to work with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service and the wider sector to support improvements for communities, including in Surrey Heath, through national reform, stable funding and stronger coordination.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim