Mark secured a debate on the role of the Emergency Services in a chamber of the House of Commons
On Tuesday 12th June Rugby MP Mark Pawsey led a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament on the need for our emergency services to work together in responding to incidents. Mark spoke on this issue in his capacity as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the Emergency Services. APPGs are platforms in which MPs and Peers work together to raise awareness of a particular cause. Mark also wanted to hold this debate because Airwave, a company based in Rugby, provides a radio network that enables the police, fire and ambulance services to coordinate their roles to ensure the best possible response to an incident.
During the debate, Mark said:
“By working together, emergency services can respond effectively to crucial events as they occur. I am pleased that the introduction of a common communications platform-currently through a company based in my constituency of Rugby-has had a positive impact on the ability of the emergency services to work together”.
Responding for the Government, Home Office Minister James Brokenshire said:
“I congratulate the Member for Rugby on securing the debate, on chairing the all-party parliamentary group on the emergency services and following that work through to facilitate a good and constructive discussion on the issues that are relevant to the joint working of our emergency services”.
Speaking afterwards, Mark said:
“I am delighted to have been able to secure this important debate today. Our emergency services play a vital role in keeping us all safe and the debate proved very useful in trying to find ways to help them fulfil their job to the best of their ability”.
Mark continued:
“I was very pleased to hear the Minister say that the Home Office has asked the emergency services to set up a new programme of work designed to further improve their joint response to emergencies. It is good to know that the Government are aware of mine and other MPs concerns and I am glad that they are actively promoting the joint-working of our emergency services”.
Mark concluded:
“I first became aware of the issue of communication between the Emergency Services because of a visit to Airwave, a company who are based here in Rugby. They now provide much needed communication between the services and their role has been widely praised in reports into the London 7/7 bombings and in the media. I was, as I always am, very glad to have the opportunity to praise the work of a Rugby based company”.