The government is to enact wide-ranging legislation overhauling the fire and rescue services.

A pledge in the Queen's Speech to introduce new laws means that the reforms set out in the government's white paper will now be implemented.

The legislation was described by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister as beginning a "much delayed modernisation process".

There will be a shift from intervention to fire prevention, with a new duty to promote community fire safety.

And the legislation will establish statutory core duties covering areas such as fire fighting, road traffic accidents and responding to potential terrorist threats.

Fire and rescue authorities will be "strengthened and streamlined" and there will be a bigger role for consultation through improved advisory and consultative forums.

The Fire Brigades Union has said that, at first glance, there is nothing new in the bill.

Although union officials support the move towards fire prevention, they warn that no additional funding has been allocated.

"It is quite clear that the clear intention is to cut the fire service and decorate it with window dressing," a spokesman told ePolitix.com.