The safety of everyone in Scotland is paramount to the Scottish Executive, and the Sports Division has responsibility for safety on Scotland's mountains. When mountain rescue is required, this is a matter for the police and volunteers and comes under the responsibility of the Executive's Justice Department.
Funding is provided for mountain safety through sportscotland to both the Mountaineering Council of Scotland ( www.mcofs.org.uk)(MCofS), the governing body of the sport, and the Scottish Avalanche Information Service ( www.sais.gov.uk).
The Mountaineering Council of Scotland aims to protect the ethos of mountaineering in Scotland; to safeguard and secure access to hill and crag; to protect the mountain environment and to initiate and encourage safe practice in the mountains. The Scottish Avalanche Information Service provides free avalanche risk assesments for several mountain areas through their website.