The department currently chairs a group called the Best Value Forum, which includes representatives from the Emergency Planning Society, Local Government Association and the Audit Commission. The Group was set up to provide advice and guidance to the Audit Commission on Best Value as it applies to emergency management. This Group may become the focus for consultation on monitoring Standards. There are still some discussions to be had on this topic, but I hope that an announcement can be made shortly. In one sense there is no direct link and it is important to recognise that meeting Standards is not the same as achieving Best Value.
Standards are about applying good practice in the field of emergency management.
So those authorities meeting Standards are likely to be assisted in achieving Best Value. When we issued Standards we promised they would form an 'organic', living document that would alter and improve as events and time progressed. We anticipate that Best Value Reviews, Benchmarking Clubs and good practice workshops will all contribute to changes. This is consistent with the ethos of continuous improvement. Funding Turning now to questions of funding and let me be straight with you.