Scottish Government

The group was tasked with considering the recommendations in Mr Tomkins' report and to provide advice to Scottish Ministers about a balanced and proportionate response to each. The group met four times from June to November 2010 and submitted its report to Scottish Ministers on 25 February 2011.

_{Picture courtesy of Dumfries & Galloway Fire & Rescue Service}

Terms of Reference

To contribute to the Scottish Government's strategic objective of delivering a safer and stronger Scotland at a national level by adopting the following terms of reference:

'To bring together responder agencies and voluntary organisations, at a national level, to consider the Paddy Tomkins' report, providing advice to Scottish Ministers to assist with the preparation of a response by Scottish Ministers to the recommendations in the Paddy Tomkins' report; and the development of policy for an effective and proportionate rescue capability for Scotland's inland waters.'

Remit

To inform and lend impetus to work on developing policy to help strengthen multi-agency arrangements for responding to open water and flood rescue incidents in Scotland, ensuring an effective and proportionate response capability across Scotland.

Should be representative of those organisations with a statutory responsibility for protecting life during open water and flooding rescue incidents; and those charitable and voluntary organisations with the skills, knowledge and experience of responding to open water and flooding incidents.

The Group will consider those recommendations in the Paddy Tomkins' report which are not already in hand and require further investigation, providing advice to Ministers in respect of a balanced and realistic response to each.

Members

In addition the Highland & Islands Strategic Coordination Group Coordinator and the Tayside Strategic Coordination Group Coordinator were members of the Group.