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03
Jul 2022
North Yorkshire fire service has adequate funding, says minister
A government minister has said that funding of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue is adequate, despite concerns over cuts to its capital grant.
In a written question to the Home Office, York MP Racheal Maskell asked the government whether it had carried out an assessment of the adequacy of the service’s funding.
She also asked what the anticipated funding for the service will be over the next three years.
The question comes as ministers cut North Yorkshire’s capital grant, meaning it could have to borrow up to £31 million to cover maintenance costs.
In response, Kit Malthouse, minister of state at the Home Office, said:
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The response comes as unions have raised concern over the fire service’s finances.
The cut to the service’s capital grant is worth around £8 million a year.
Steve Howley, Fire Brigades Union North Yorkshire brigade secretary, said previously that the service would be left snuggling to buy basics as a result of the cut.
Meanwhile, in an interview with the Stray Ferret last week, Zoe Metcalfe, North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, described the cut as “very unfair”.
She added that she was “working hard for additional funding” to ensure the service was not in a position outlined by the unions.
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