Harriett Baldwin warned this week that the Government's plan to regionalise the fire and ambulance services could undermine the effectiveness of the emergency services as a whole in tackling future flood risks and other unforeseen events.

Under Labour's ongoing regionalisation plans, the local fire control room for Worcester is due to be moved to Wolverhampton covering a population of 5.3 million people and an area of 13,000 square km. Local knowledge and expertise will be lost. In addition, the local ambulance control room in Bransford in Worcestershire is to be shut and staff asked to move to Brierley Hill, Stafford or Leamington Spa.

Harriett Baldwin said:

"The Labour Government's expensive plans for the regionalisation of the fire and ambulance control services are flawed. Conservatives fear it could actually undermine the effectiveness of the emergency services in tackling disasters like floods - where co-operation between the local council, fire, police and ambulance services is essential."