Better Regulation Delivery Office
The extension of Primary Authority to cover fire safety has been greeted enthusiastically by business and fire and rescue services around the UK.
The Chief Fire Officers Association has welcomed the nomination of the first Primary Authority partnerships for fire safety.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service formed Primary Authority partnerships with B&Q, Nuffield Health, Majestic Wine, Royal Bank of Scotland, Orchid Pubs and Home Retail Group, who operate Argos, Homebase and Habitat stores.
And Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is now the Primary Authority for TJX (owners of TK Maxx) and Tesco Stores Ltd. More fire partnerships have been nominated and will be added here when they have been processed via the Primary Authority Register where a full list of partnerships is available.
The partnerships will enable fire and rescue services across England and Wales to work consistently to improve fire safety and streamline compliance management across these companies outlets.
Training has taken place for officers in all areas of England and Wales, and a series of briefings has begun for fire chiefs. There are now around 1,500 businesses in Primary Authority agreements covering areas of regulation such as trading standards and environmental health.
Primary Authority has also been extended to cover age-restricted sales of alcohol.