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 5:08 pm on 22 November 2022.

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Photo of Hefin David Hefin David Labour 5:08, 22 November 2022

I'd just like to understand, first of all, that the response to the chief fire and rescue adviser's report, you've received it from north Wales, but you haven't had a comprehensive reply from mid or south Wales rescue authorities. That's disappointing to hear, because I know you called for it in your statement on 11 November, I think, in this Chamber, and you said you expected to receive that imminently. So, what I'm about to say is not their view that I've received, because nobody seems to have had it yet, but it is the view of the Fire Brigades Union members that I've spoken to.

So, I just wanted to share with you, in the absence of the rescue authorities giving you a view, this is what I've had from the Fire Brigades Union members. They feel that there's currently an issue with fatigue on shifts and it's not something that—. Sorry, they do not feel there's currently an issue with fatigue on shifts and it's not something that they feel needs to be addressed. That's what was told to me by an FBU member, a fire worker, in south Wales. They said that they feel that the stand-down periods that firefighters have between shifts, removing those periods could actually be counterproductive, and they feel that they wouldn't want to see that happen. They feel that, if the changes go ahead, then fatigue will actually increase. They feel stand-down periods are vital to ensuring sufficient rest for firefighters between shifts, and adopting the proposed changes would have an adverse impact on work-life balance for a workforce who staff a service that is open 24/7/365, and childcare arrangements, for example, would be negatively affected, in the view of this fire worker that I spoke to. They find themselves, they told me, in agreement with their senior management, although I note, as I've said earlier, that senior management don't seem to have responded to you—[Interruption.] Oh, they have. Okay, they have responded to you—okay.

So, I think your social partnership approach is really useful. I think if these issues are to be ironed out, that's the best way to do it. Does the Minister think, therefore, that any interim meetings would be useful, to understand the view of the FBU as it was described to me?