THE Home Office has published figures showing what Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service and all other authorities in England pay for common items of uniform and equipment.

The figures show that while the cost of several products was broadly similar across the country, in some cases brigades paid as much as five times more than others for the same types of kit.

Examples of wide variations in the procurement costs set out in data published by the Home Office included:

  • Firefighting helmets ranging from £120 each to more than £200. Cumbria's Fire and Rescue Service paid £135.
  • Firefighting trousers ranging from less than £150 to more than £230. Cumbria paid £191.25.
  • The cost of jumpers ranged from less than £7 to almost £40 each with Cumbria paying £14.97, while prices for waterproof jackets ranged from less than £20 to nearly £100 - Cumbria paid £30.91.
  • Portable ladders were purchased at costs ranging from £1,500 to £4,189. Cumbria paid £3,364.20.
  • Hoses varied in price from £272 (Avon) to £115 (West Yorkshire). Cumbria paid £126.
  • Fire engines ranged in cost from £165,000 to £277,000. Cumbria paid £198,000.

Authorities were asked to provide details on the last time they purchased 25 commonly-procured items.

However, alongside the data the Home Office issued an "explanatory note", which said there were variations which meant direct comparisons between services were "more complicated".

For example, a number of authorities use some form of fully managed service to outfit their staff.

In those cases the cost noted against individual items of personal protective equipment is generally that for replacement of a lost or damaged item, which may differ from the cost to procure that item outside of a fully-managed service.

Fire and rescue services were asked to provide details on the last time they purchased 25 commonly-procured items.

The note said: "For some authorities, this was several years ago, and the general cost of certain items (electronic items in particular) may have changed in the intervening period."

Brandon Lewis, minister for policing and the fire service, said: "It makes no sense for fire and rescue authorities to buy separately when there are both financial and operational benefits to buying together.

"While some fire and rescue authorities are already collaborating on procurement and reaping the benefits, there is still a lot more to be done.

"This is why I have published key fire procurement data on the prices that authorities currently pay for the most common items of uniforms and equipment for the first time.

"By doing so, I hope to increase transparency and encourage the sector to take on the challenge of reforming its own commercial landscape."

Sean Starbuck of the Fire Brigades Union said: "We are already involved in a collaboration like this with more than 20 brigades around the country and we welcome a national collaborative approach to the procurement of firefighters' protective clothing and equipment.

"It will mean a move towards national standards for our members' health and safety - currently, a firefighter in one part of the country could be far less well protected than one in another because of differences in budget, and that just isn't right.

"However, we need to make sure that quality is maintained and that this isn't just another cost-cutting move."

Paul Hancock, president of the Chief Fire Officers Association, said: "We recognise there are differences in costs of equipment across the sector and work is under way to address this.

"We have established a Strategic Commercial Committee with the Home Office with the objective of transforming the fire commercial landscape as a whole.

"We have already identified categories of high expenditure which offer the greatest opportunities for savings from collaboration.

"We are very supportive of this piece of work by the Home Office and will continue to work closely with them to ensure we provide the best service to the public, while demonstrating best value for money."

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