8. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership: Fire Service training and capacity to broaden the role

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:10 pm on 22 November 2022.

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Photo of Hannah Blythyn Hannah Blythyn Labour 5:10, 22 November 2022

Diolch. Can I thank Hefin David for his contribution there? Just to clarify, as I read the statement I thought, actually, it's not overly clear. All three fire and rescue services, to put it on the record, have responded as they were asked to do to the chief fire and rescue adviser's report on training, but only north Wales has actually set it out in responding to each recommendation with a clear action of what they're trying to do to address it, which is what we were seeking, to have that assurance that it was being taken seriously and that it was considered, even if they were going to come back and say, 'Well, actually that's not how we perceive it; we perceive this,' with the evidence as well. So, that's just to clarify that.

I think you're referring, rather than to the most recent training review, to the earlier thematic review, which looked at whether there was scope to broaden the role, and one of the findings of the chief fire and rescue adviser was around the current shift patterns, wasn't it? It was four on, four off, and nine-hour days and 15-hour nights. So, the focus at the moment is on that training and getting the training right, and of course anything like that would need to be negotiated and go through the proper channels. So, absolutely, we're committed to working with the FBU and all representatives, and through regular dialogue and hopefully through the new social partnership forum, when it's established, to address those broader challenges and to make the fire service more sustainable, because—and I would say this, because of the background I come from as well—I think it's absolutely essential to have the voice of the workforce as part of that, to shape it for the future, to sustain it, and to support them as well.