Investigation into FireControl project

MPs have launched an investigation into cost and time over-runs affecting the government's £350m FireControl project.

The project, which has been delayed because of IT difficulties, will see investment in a nationally linked network of control centres across England.

The high costs and delays are affecting plans to close 46 area control centres and merge them into nine regional centres.

The first three regional centres in the South West, East Midlands and North East have already been delayed by nine months and are subject to a delay of a further 10 months.

The London centre, which fire chiefs had hoped would open a year before the 2012 Olympics to enable them to test it thoroughly, is now due to open only 10 months before the Games in July.

The Commons Communities and Local Government Committee has called for evidence on what has gone wrong and the changes needed if the FireControl project is to succeed.

The inquiry into the Department of Communities and Local Government's management of the programme will be concurrent with a National Audit Office investigation, looking into procurement arrangements in particular. The main supplier is EADS.

The committee investigation is intended to be more wide ranging and not replicate the NAO's study.

A public hearing is planned in early February.