Luke Akehurst

I thank everyone who has participated in what I think has been a useful debate, during which we have had the time to delve into a serious and important subject in quite some detail. The hon. Member for Keighley and Ilkley (Robbie Moore) made the important point that the first responder on the scene is critical and that the training that they have received can save lives. He outlined the tragic case of his constituent’s daughter, and it was important for us to hear about what this issue means for the people who are directly affected by it. I also thank my hon. Friend the Member for Blaydon and Consett (Liz Twist) and the hon. Member for Winchester (Dr Chambers), who have now left the Chamber, but who made important and useful interventions before they did so. The Liberal Democrat spokesperson, the hon. Member for Chelmsford (Marie Goldman), made some very important points in support of the call by Samaritans for mandatory training, and very importantly she raised the issue of the support offered to firefighters compared with the support offered to the police. The shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner (David Simmonds), talked about the changing nature of call-outs and the increased number that involve an individual in crisis. He made a very important point about learning from what is effective in training programmes in other sectors rather than reinventing the wheel. He also made the important point about a proportionate approach to the time taken up in training and the costs involved, along with raising the important issue of the duty of care to the firefighters. I thank the Minister for his very detailed response to the debate and for paying tribute to Samaritans as an organisation and our firefighters. It was important that he mentioned the control room staff. After a meeting last Friday, I had the honour of being taken into the control room for County Durham and Darlington by the chief fire officer. It was the height of the firework season and very busy, and I saw the calm way that those people dealt with dramatic phone calls coming in short order. I think of the impact that working in that way every day must have on them. The Minister mentioned the importance of the National Fire Chiefs Council for looking at any gaps in training as a sector. He also mentioned not pre-empting the evidence that comes back along with the need for it to be sector-led. I accept that point and welcome that he did not rule out—if the evidence shows that it is needed—responding positively to the call for a national mandated requirement. I look forward to hearing what evidence comes back from that survey and whether the gaps identified from talking to the fire chiefs match those identified in the desktop survey that Samaritans did through freedom of information requests. I take the Minister’s points about learning from the police experience but not seeing it as mapping completely across. His points about the potential role of the college of fire and rescue were also important. I end by echoing what the Minister said about not assuming that current provision is good enough. Certainly, the research by Samaritans suggested that there is considerable postcode variation even between the fire brigades within an individual region. I am reassured by what the Minister said about properly going away and looking at the evidence and seeing if what Samaritans has asked for is indeed what is needed. Question put and agreed to. Resolved, That this House has considered the matter of suicide prevention training for fire and rescue services.