The Department for Communities and Local Government has published the Secretary of State’s report on Fire and Rescue Authorities’ progress with the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England.

Under Section 25 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004, the Secretary of State is required to report to Parliament every two years on:

a) the extent to which fire and rescue authorities are acting in accordance with the Framework; and
b) any steps taken by him for the purpose of securing that fire and rescue authorities act in accordance with the Framework.

The report says that the Secretary of State is satisfied that fire and rescue authorities have been acting in accordance with the Framework, and he has not taken any formal steps to secure
compliance.

Click here to read the full report.

Commercial buildings, non-domestic and multi-occupancy premises in England and Wales are already forced to undertake a 'suitable and sufficient' fire risk assessment carried out under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

While the overwhelming majority of premises do this, if the assessment is thought to have been carried out to an insufficient extent, the Responsible Person can face an unlimited fine or up to two years in prison.