Legislation setting out Scottish Government plans for a single Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has now been published.
Scotland has a strong and widely respected Fire and Rescue Service - fire deaths are almost 50 percent lower than they were 10 years ago. However, Scotland's public sector is facing unprecedented financial challenges and reform is the only way to sustain these hard-won gains and sustain the local fire and rescue services that communities depend on. The status quo is no longer sustainable.
The Scottish Government is committed to delivering a modern, effective and sustainable Scottish Fire and Rescue Service which is responsive to the needs of local communities and gives all parts of Scotland access to national specialist fire and rescue services.
A single Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will:
- Protect and improve frontline services for local communities against the backdrop of severe budget reductions by the Westminster government;
- Keep communities safer by providing more equitable access across Scotland to specialist support, expertise and national capacity when it is needed;
- Strengthen the links between the fire and rescue service and the communities they serve; and
- Provide clearer national governance.
Key aspects of the Police and Fire Reform Bill (Scotland) 2012 include:
- Regular, formal opportunities for the Scottish Parliament to scrutinise fire and rescue services.
- Establishing the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service board to hold the Chief Officer to account.
- Transferring the current functions of fire and rescue authorities to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. All staff employed by the current eight fire and rescue authorities will transfer to the new service.
- A statutory duty for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to provide adequate local services.
- A designated local senior fire officer for each local authority area, responsible for involving the local authority in determining priorities and objectives for fire and rescue services in the local area.
- A local plan for fire and rescue services for each local authority area, agreed between the relevant local senior officer and the local authority, setting out priorities, objectives and arrangements for local service delivery.
- The creation of an Inspectorate of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
The Scottish Government is working with the police service and other key stakeholders on the transition to the new structure.
Subject to Parliamentary approval of the legislation, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is expected to go live on April 1, 2013. A small leadership team will have an interim operating base at Perth Community Fire Station.
Further information
A news release announcing the publication of the Bill on January 17 2012 is available on the Scottish Government website. The Bill and its supporting documents are also available on the Scottish Parliament website.
Other background information:
For further information please contact:
Police and Fire Reform Division
Scottish Government
Floor 1R
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG