ROLE OF FIREFIGHTERS IN FLOOD RESCUES AND RESPONSE

That this House records its thanks to the firefighters and other emergency and public service workers involved in the rescue and evacuation of thousands of people from the floods; notes that firefighters alone have rescued 3,500 people and that emergency fire control operators have taken thousands of extra calls; further notes that many fire crews have returned home, after working 16 hour shifts, to find their own homes flooded; shares the concerns highlighted in particular by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and some fire chiefs about planning and co-ordination of flood relief efforts and the lack of standardisation of equipment and training in the fire and rescue services; and therefore calls on the Government to reward the service of firefighters and to review funding and co-ordination of flood defence and response in consultation with the FBU.