Group 14: Fire and rescue authorities (Amendments 142, 48, 49, 57)

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 8:42 pm on 10 November 2020.

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Photo of Mark Isherwood Mark Isherwood Conservative 8:42, 10 November 2020

Diolch, Llywydd. The Minister repeated the statement made at Stage 2, which I read out, that removing this additional and unnecessary requirement will simplify an overcomplicated and expensive process, despite every fire and rescue authority in Wales saying to the contrary—that this would not be without risk to public and firefighters' safety, that there are clear flaws in the proposals, and that an inquiry as a brake or filter on any such proposal was very much in the public interest. It's a very sorry state of affairs when any Government believes that it knows better than the unanimous voice of a front-line emergency service in Wales. Good governance means that you listen, you learn; you don't pretend you know better.