The full text of deputy prime minister John Prescott's statement to MPs on reform of the fire service.

"With permission, Mr Speaker, I should like to make a statement on the fire and rescue service.

Today I am publishing the White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service". It sets out our plans to modernise and reform the fire and rescue service in England and Wales. Copies are available in the Vote Office.

The fire and rescue service is a vital public service. It is part of the fabric of all our communities.

The service it provides is essential in preventing fires, and in responding quickly and effectively to fire emergencies.

It also has a much wider role which involves:

rescuing people from accidents;

responding to environmental disasters such as flooding; and

being ready to respond to the threat of terrorist incidents - which unfortunately is an increasingly important role.

Mr Speaker, this government is committed to modernisation and reform of all our public services.

We want to build on what is good in the fire service and tackle those areas where there are shortcomings - many of which have been exposed in the course of the dispute over the last 12 months.

I hope that, with the publication of today's White Paper, we can all look ahead to a better future for the fire and rescue service and draw a line under what has happened over the past year.

It was as in response to the dispute that last September we asked Professor Sir George Bain to carry out an independent review into the fire service and make recommendations on how the service might be modernised and improved.

Sir George's review built on previous reports into the fire service and drew on evidence from a wide range of interested parties.

Sir George reported last December. I am grateful for his work and the work of Sir Michael Lyons, past Chief Executive of Birmingham City Council and Sir Anthony Young, past President of the TUC, who assisted him in the review. Today's White Paper is the Government's response to Sir George Bain's report.

The White Paper sets out our proposals for the fire and rescue service of the future.

The service will be more proactive in preventing fires.

It will have more effective institutions to better support its role and purpose.

It will be more effectively led and managed and will be better able to adapt to change and to respond safely, quickly and efficiently.

Above all the reformed fire and rescue service will save more lives and reduce injuries.

The House will be well aware that the fire service of today has many strengths, not least of which are the fire fighters and other support staff who work in the service.

They are committed to the service and, I believe, share our wish to see it improve.

But to do that change is essential.

I do not believe that the service can continue to be run in the same way as it has been since the last national pay dispute 25 years ago.

The White Paper therefore proposes a sensible package of changes that will make:

the service more effective and efficient; and safer

the jobs of those people who work in the service more rewarding.

The White Paper has six main themes.

First it explains the new emphasis of the service on the prevention of fires and other emergencies as well as on fire fighting.

There is much that can be done by sensible fire precautions and other measures to reduce the numbers of fires that start and reduce the risk to our fire fighters:

We will continue to review the Building Regulations.

We will rationalise existing legislation and increase our investment in community fire safety, arson reduction measures and measures to combat terrorism.

We will also make changes so that fire authorities will, in future, ensure a better allocation of resources on the basis of risk.

The risk-based approach means that more emergency cover will be available at times of highest risk. At present cover is based on the number and type of buildings in an area, rather than the risks faced by the people in them. In future authorities will plan to provide cover for all risks facing our communities, not just those from fire.

In recognition of this wider role we will rename the Fire Service as the Fire and Rescue Service.

Second, the White Paper sets out our proposals for a more coherent regional approach to fire and rescue. Professor Bain, in his report, recognised the strength of argument in favour of regional organisation of the fire service.

Current arrangements for managing the fire service are confused and inefficient.

There are too many small fire authorities which cannot generate economies of scale and do not have the resources to tackle some of the major threats facing us today - particularly terrorism.

For example, the cost of control rooms responding to a single fire incident ranges from £168 in the smallest authority to £18 in the largest. That is an ineffective use of resources.

We therefore expect local fire authorities to set in hand arrangements at regional level so they are more efficient, more effective and better able to respond flexibly to threats and emergencies.

In due course - where directly elected regional assemblies are established - we envisage there being regional fire and rescue authorities democratically accountable to those assemblies.

The fire and rescue service is however delivered locally. Better regional co-ordination and management of the service must not detract from the local focus of the service on working with communities on fire prevention and other community safety measures.

We will work closely with local authorities, the Local Government Association and others to ensure that this happens.

And - in accordance with Bain's recommendations, and with the support of the Welsh Assembly - we will devolve responsibility for fire issues to Wales.

Third, the White Paper sets out the institutional changes that we will make to improve the management of the service.

Current fire service institutions date back to the period immediately after the Second World War.

Reform is long over due.

In line with Bain's recommendations:

We will seek external and impartial advice to assist us in giving national strategic direction to the service.

We will set up a service improvement team within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to drive through the modernisation process.

We will set up two forums to inform policy development. The first will seek the practical input of those working in the service. The other will get the wider views of stakeholders representing business and the communities.

I also intend to ask the Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers' Association to play a greater role in developing policy. Like their counterparts in the police service, chief fire officers are critical to the effective management of the service. We want to see stronger leadership, better co-operation and more effective management of the fire and rescue service.

We will create a new centre of excellence based on the Fire Service College.

And we will reform the Fire Service Inspectorate.

Fourth, the White Paper sets out our plans for improved scrutiny and inspection.

In line with Bain's advice we are working with the Audit Commission to develop their role in inspecting and reporting on the work of the service.

Fifth, the White Paper sets out changes to reform the machinery for negotiating pay and conditions.

The shortcomings of the current arrangements have been clearly exposed during the fire dispute. At present the employers' side has to represent 58 separate fire brigade authorities. That is simply too unwieldy to work effectively.

So we will set up three smaller bodies to negotiate pay and conditions for chief fire officers, middle managers and fire fighters and control room staff.

Finally the White Paper sets out our proposals for modernising the personnel management arrangements of the service.

Fire fighting is a popular occupation.

On average there are 40 applicants for every job.

But there are real problems:

at present there are no systems whereby the best performers can progress quickly;

the service does not fully represent the communities it serves; and

there are real problems recruiting "retained" or part time fire fighters. The retained fire fighters crew more than half of the appliances in this country. It is therefore vital to the future of the fire and rescue service to attract new retained fire fighters.

To tackle these issues the White Paper sets our how we intend to work with employers and employees to introduce the new Integrated Personnel Development System to build best practice into the service:

we will introduce multi-level entry in the fire and rescue service and accelerated development schemes;

we will introduce measures to promote diversity and end any bullying or harassment;

we will reform and modernise the pensions system; and

we will modernise the disputes and disciplinary arrangements to bring them into line with ACAS best practice.

Mr Speaker this White Paper sets out a practical programme of change for the fire and rescue service. It is a programme of change which I believe should be welcomed by all.

The White Paper will benefit the public and business who rely on the service to protect them from danger and rescue them from incidents.

It will benefit authorities and managers through a safer, more efficient and effective service.

And it will benefit all those who work in the service by providing greater career opportunities and more work satisfaction.

I believe that the great majority of fire fighters - when they look at the detail of this White Paper - will see the good sense in these proposals. We will send a summary of the White Paper to every fire fighter in the country. I hope they and their families will take the time to read it.

Mr Speaker this White Paper allows us to look ahead to the future and leave behind the difficulties of the past year.

It sets out the future for the modern fire and rescue service.

A service focussed on fire prevention.

A service that works with and for the community.

And a service that is fair to all the staff who work in it.

This White Paper is good news for the fire and rescue service.

It provides for a modern, efficient and safe service for the twenty first century that will be good for Britain.

I commend the White Paper to the House."