The FIA CEO has responded to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement that responsibility for fire safety will move from the Home Office to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Ian Moore (CEO of the FIA) said that this decision (that many of us have known was coming for some time) is common sense and he is glad to see that the Government is finally listening (after many years) to feedback from the fire industry.

WMS 8 - Machinery of Government

Statement made by Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister

I am making this statement to bring to the House's attention the following Machinery of Government change.

On 4 September 2024 I announced that the Government would respond in full to the Grenfell Phase 2 Inquiry report within six months. In response to one of the recommendations from the report, I am confirming today that responsibility for fire will move from the Home Office to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. This change will bring responsibility for building safety and fire under a single Secretary of State, providing for a more coherent approach to keeping people safe from fire in their homes. The Home Office will retain management of the Airwave Service Contract on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and will remain responsible for the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme and His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

This change will be effective from 1 April 2025. The Government will respond to the full report in due course.

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