Question
Summer was a difficult time for Nottinghamshire fire service; it battled with wildfires and a lot of heat-related incidents. The firemen and women had to wear protective equipment and clothing in which it was simply unbearable to work in that type of heat. I know that the Secretary of State has made some funding available for this, but will she work to ensure that by next summer, if we have the same hot weather and wildfires, brave firemen and women will have the clothing and protective equipment that they need to work in those conditions?
Answer
I commend all those who fought wildfires over the summer, and the right hon. Gentleman is right to recognise that the personal protective equipment that firefighters need is different in those circumstances. That is why we have put in £45 million extra for equipment, on top of the £97 million. We are working to ensure that our firefighters have the equipment that they need, and of course we announced aerial support, too.40% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (66/100)
The reply directly answers the main question: the Government says it is working to ensure firefighters have the equipment they need, acknowledges that wildfire and hot-weather protective clothing differ, and cites £45 million of extra equipment funding on top of £97 million. It does not commit to the 'by next summer' timing the question asked about, so the asker would likely need to follow up for a date or deadline. The answer is clear on what is being done but gives no timetable for delivery.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Secretary of State work to ensure that, by next summer, firefighters have the protective clothing and equipment they need to work in hot conditions and wildfires. | Addressed | Direct | The reply gives an explicit commitment that the Government is working to ensure firefighters have the equipment they need (statement 4), acknowledges that wildfire and hot-weather PPE differs (statement 2), and cites a concrete £45 million extra for equipment on top of £97 million (statement 3). It does not commit to the 'by next summer' deadline, which is a gap, but the core question of whether the Secretary of State will work to ensure the equipment is answered. |