Mayor Boris set to take over as supremo of Britain's biggest fire service

Its origins date back almost 350 years to the Great Fire of London, and under proposals announced Friday by Prime Minister David Cameron, the running of London Fire Brigade will be handed to London Mayor Boris Johnson.

A shake-up in the running of Britain's emergency services --police, fire and ambulance -- is one of a number of sweeping changes announced Friday by Cameron and his cabinet ministers.

Ahead a government spending review, due to be announced this fall by Chancellor George Osborne, Cameron in a keynote speech Friday outlined the case for a smarter state with better public services and better value for taxpayers.

The three "999" services could save money by sharing functions, such as administration and IT, says Cameron.

Mayor Johnson already runs Transport for London and is responsible for policing and crime policy across the capital city.

Under a consultation proposal announced Friday, the mayor will head what is one of the biggest fire and rescue services in the world, and the biggest in Britain, employing over 5,000 firefighters.

He will be given direct responsibility for the fire service, with the current body, the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, abolished as part of the government's "smaller Britain" plan.

A privately run fire service was set up in London after the Great Fire of 1666, but it wasn't until 150 years ago that it became an organised public service, spurred on by a massive fire at the Palace of Westminster, home of the British government.

Cameron said in his speech that despite difficult decisions ahead in the spending review to rebalance the economy, the government will go ahead with an ambitious plan to deliver a "smarter state".

At the heart of his "one nation" approach will be progressive reform to key public services, greater devolution of power to towns and cities, and increased efficiency in public spending.

The prime minister cited examples of where action will be taken, including a greater emphasis on the expansion of the "Troubled Families program" to help 400,000 families needing support.

He said he plans new laws to so the police, fire and ambulance operations can collaborate, with control in London switching to Mayor Johnson.

Up to 38 of Britain's major towns and cities will also be earmarked for devolution deals, switching decision making from Whitehall to city halls. That will represent the biggest shake-up in local government for more than a generation.

Cameron said in his speech: "I believe that by focusing on core principles -- reform, devolution and efficiency -- we can deliver better, more progressive government that will meet the challenge of living within our means and at the same time help us to extend opportunity to all."

Source: XINHUA