Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004: Elizabeth II. Chapter 21

Format:

Corporate Author:

Great Britain

Publisher:

TSO (The Stationery Office)

The Act seeks to deliver a modernised Service that respond to the particular demands of the 21st century. Part 1 of the Act - Fire and rescue authorities - determines which body is the fire and rescue authority for an area and provides for the combination of two or more authorities by Government order. Part 2 - Functions of fire and rescue authorities - sets out the duties and powers of authorities (principally, fire safety, fires and road traffic accidents, and emergencies). Part 3 - Administration - provides for the preparation of a Fire and Rescue National Framework setting out the Services strategic priorities, and for Government supervision of authorities. Part 4 - Employment - deals in particular with negotiating bodies, and pension schemes. Part 5 - Water supply - imposes duties on fire and rescue authorities and water undertakers to ensure an adequate supply of water for fire-fighting activities. Part 6 - Supplementary - includes provisions abolishing the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council. The Act repeals the Fire Services Act 1947, but does not repeal the provisions of the 1947 Act as they apply in Scotland (with the exception of the pension provisions in the 1947 Act which are replaced by provisions of Part 4 of the new Act). The Act devolves the remaining responsibilities for fire and rescue authorities in Wales to the National Assembly for Wales. The Act does not extend to Northern Ireland. Explanatory notes have been produced to assist in the understanding of this act (whicxh recieved Royal assent on 22 July 2004) and are available separately (ISBN 0105621048).