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Machinery of Government: Home Office transfers fire responsibility to MHCLG

The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has, as of 1 July 2025, officially completed the transfer of responsibility for all fire and rescue related policy and operational functions, held by the Home Office from 2016 to 2025.

In response to Recommendation 3 of the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report, the Prime Minister approved this Machinery of Government (MoG) change in February 2025. The intent behind the recommendation was to address fragmentation of central government oversight and bring all fire-relevant policy together in one government department under one Secretary of State.

Ministerial responsibility for fire transferred to MHCLG on 1 April 2025 and the transfer of staff, the final stage in the process, completed on 1 July 2025.

Articles published on Fire England under the Home Office's tenure will remain as is with the exception of any articles that refer to current information or guidance, which will now reference MHCLG accordingly.

Government publishes their response to the Fire Reform White Paper

Last year's white paper, Reforming our Fire and Rescue Service, set out the Government's proposals for reforming the Fire and Rescue Services.

Government publishes their response to the McCloud / Sargeant remedy consultation

The Home Office's response concerns the consultation over the Firefighters Pensions (Remediable Service) Regulations 2023

New fire safety laws came into force on 1 October 2023

Amendments to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) 2005 (FSO) commenced at the start of this month.

New fire safety regulations come into force in England

The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, which implement the majority of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommendations into law, come into force today (23 January 2023).