STATUTORY DUTY - FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES

That this House is concerned that there currently doesn't exist a statutory duty upon fire and rescue services to respond to incidents of severe flooding in the UK; is aware however that rescue authorities have the power to respond when required under Part 1, section 2 of the Fire and Rescue Act 2004, to protect citizens from serious harm during flooding when circumstances deem it necessary; believes that a more co-ordinated and professional approach to this issue needs to be established using fire and rescue authorities' abilities to deploy skilled personnel via their integral command and control functions, to co-ordinate and respond to any rescue or preventative phases of flooding, threats and incidents; and accordingly calls on the Government to take the necessary steps to bring forward proposals for such a statutory duty within the existing capacity of this most important public service.