The Secretary of State may hold a public local inquiry into the manner in which any fire authority are performing their functions under this Act, or into the circumstances of, or the steps taken to deal with, any particular outbreak of fire.

F1Subsections (2), (3) and (5) of section two hundred and fifty of the M1Local Government Act 1972 (which relate to evidence at local enquiries and to the making of orders as to payment of the costs incurred thereat by local authorities) shall apply to any inquiry held in pursuance of this Act.