NFCC urges sustained investment following Chancellor’s Budget Statement

Responding to today’s Budget Statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Chair, Phil Garrigan, said: 

“In a year of major government spending decisions, NFCC has been clear – fire and rescue must not become the forgotten emergency service. Recent announcements suggest we may see the first real-terms increase to fire funding in more than a decade, which is a welcome step forward. But it does not reverse the long-term impact of years of cuts.

“Today’s Budget did not reference fire and rescue, but our focus remains unchanged. We will continue to highlight the need for sustained investment so services can meet rising demand. Fire and rescue services are attending significantly more incidents than they were ten years ago, despite a substantial fall in firefighter numbers and an ageing estate shaped by the loss of around £1 billion in capital funding.

“Last week’s announcement on funding reforms was an encouraging start, and we look forward to further clarity and continued progress. The risk landscape is evolving rapidly – our services are on the frontline of climate-related emergencies, advancing energy technologies, and an expanded regulatory role in building safety. We are ready to meet these challenges – but doing so requires modern, well-resourced services.

“Fire and rescue is the foundation of our national resilience. It is essential that investment keeps pace with the demands we face.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

• The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is a charity and an independent membership association and the professional voice of the UK Fire and Rescue Service. NFCC supports fire and rescue services to help them to save lives and keep their local communities safe.