ST ALBANS MP Anne Main led a "vital" debate on firefighter safety in Parliament yesterday.

Mrs Main took the opportunity to hold Minister for Communities and Local Government Sadiq Khan to account on issues including budget shortages, increases in firefighter deaths and lack of adequate training for firefighters.

The MP was joined by fellow Hertfordshire MPs James Clappison, Mark Prisk and Oliver Heald during the 90-minute discussion.

It comes after the MP met St Albans firefighters lobbying Parliament to take notice of a report in to the increase of firefighter deaths.

Mrs Main said:“It was vital to raise these issues to the minister directly.

“Following the deaths of three Hertfordshire firefighters, he needs to accept the recommendations in the Fire Brigades Union's In The Line of Duty report as a matter of urgency. “After listening to my debate he did commit to evaluating the report and returning to Parliament with considered recommendations. "He also committed to ensure adequate recording of the work of our fire services both at fire and flooding incidents.

“However, there were still a lot of unanswered questions and, talking to members of the Fire Brigades Union afterwards, it was clear that they are keen to get more commitment from the Government on various issues. I agree, as our brave firefighters need adequate funding and training and we need to keep our services local.”

Following the debate, Mrs Main asked the minister to answer her points in more detail.

She said: “I must admit I found the minister’s comments on funding for our fire services bizarre.

“This funding formula really does put our council under significant pressures and this is behind the projected cuts to our fire service budgets.

“So, there is a real need for this grant system to be addressed and I shall be pressing the Government at every opportunity to bring forward its review of its funding formula.”