Committee
Criminal Justice Committee 04 March 2026 [Draft]
04 Mar 2026 · S6 · Criminal Justice Committee
Item of business
Criminal Justice System (Challenges for Session 7)
Robert Scott
Watch on SPTV
That is a very interesting question. I can certainly speak from experience of seeing the very real change that climate change has brought about. The number of wildfires that the Fire and Rescue Service attends now is much greater than it was when I joined the service, and the ferocity of those incidents is also much greater.These things are seasonal. Flooding has also increased, and firefighters now respond to flooding routinely, whereas, when I joined, it was not routine for fire and rescue services to attend flooding incidents: they were fire brigades back then. Their role has widened and so have their responsibilities.The picture is ever changing when it comes to preparedness. The service takes that responsibility very seriously, and it is pleasing to see the Scottish Government taking it very seriously, too. I was lucky enough to be invited along to the wildfire summit that took place in Grantown-on-Spey last year: I attended the summit and contributed to the discussion.It is pleasing to see a wildfire strategy being developed that does not only focus on the Fire and Rescue Service’s response; it also focuses on the role of other partners in prevention and response and on the value that can be added by landowners, land managers, estates and other individuals. Taking that holistic approach to the issue is exactly the right way to go, and I am pleased to continue to be involved in the governance of that wildfire strategy and in the oversight of improvement. That is an issue for society, not just for the service, although we obviously have a role to play in the response.
In the same item of business
The Convener
SNP
We have run considerably over time this morning. Before we move on to our next item of business, I propose that we drop the final two items, which are our re...
The Convener
SNP
Our next item is the first of a series of evidence sessions with the various inspectorates and commissioners within our remit. Our aim is to seek out their v...
Robert Scott (His Majesty’s Fire Service Inspectorate in Scotland)
Good morning. I am His Majesty’s chief inspector of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. My career in the service started quite some time ago in 1989. I joi...
The Convener
SNP
Thank you very much—that is very helpful. It is safe to say that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has gone through significant change over the decades—fr...
Robert Scott
As you say, there has been change over quite some time, and during my time in the service, I was involved in that reform process. It is very pleasing to see ...
The Convener
SNP
That is very helpful. We have regular engagement with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Fire Brigades Union, as you highlighted, and I am interest...
Robert Scott
We have not carried out a specific thematic inspection on that issue. However, when we have carried out our service delivery area inspections in the east, th...
The Convener
SNP
Thank you.
Liam Kerr
Con
Good morning, Mr Scott. I have a couple of quick questions. On service delivery, the committee has heard from the FBU and the Fire and Rescue Service about t...
Robert Scott
In the Fire and Rescue Service—this is predominantly the case in rural parts of Scotland—more than 280 of the 356 fire stations are staffed by on-call firefi...
Liam Kerr
Con
I want to follow up on that point. It is clear that a lot of work is being done to address the challenges at operational level, but the committee is keen to ...
Robert Scott
It is easy for me to make recommendations that are difficult to deliver against. If we had permanent full-time resource in pockets of Scotland available to a...
Liam Kerr
Con
As you have rightly said, being a firefighter is a very challenging job. Although everyone has enormous admiration for the courage of firefighters, it is a d...
Robert Scott
Workforce morale is difficult for us to measure, because we are not in and about every fire station in every part of Scotland. Morale will differ not only by...
Rona Mackay
SNP
Good morning. Mr Scott, you said that you have been a firefighter for many years. You mentioned climate change in your opening statement. I want to ask you a...
Robert Scott
That is a very interesting question. I can certainly speak from experience of seeing the very real change that climate change has brought about. The number o...
Rona Mackay
SNP
I completely agree with you: it is about collective responsibility and everybody has to play a part. It is encouraging to know that the service is dealing wi...
Robert Scott
It is an ever-changing landscape. We carried out a review of the operational response to climate emergencies in 2023, and I am already thinking, three years ...
Rona Mackay
SNP
There is on-going evaluation that you have to keep doing.
Robert Scott
Yes. I referred earlier to the wildfire strategy, which has been worked up by colleagues across the Scottish Government, the service and other partners. Ther...
Rona Mackay
SNP
Finally, Glasgow will host the Commonwealth games this year. I guess that you will say that everything is in place for that, and that the service will be com...
Robert Scott
We are reviewing the preparedness for the games. It is fair to say that, this time round, the games are a much smaller event than when they came to Scotland ...
Rona Mackay
SNP
Thank you—that is reassuring.
Fulton MacGregor
SNP
I have a general question. Do you have thoughts on or insights into how the fire service can bring together the views of the leadership and those on the grou...
Robert Scott
Yes—100 per cent. We come across that issue during all our inspections. When we carry out inspections, we tend to take views from the leadership of the organ...
Fulton MacGregor
SNP
Thank you.
Pauline McNeill
Lab
Good morning. I know that your statutory role is to review and inspect the statutory functions and performance of the Fire and Rescue Service, but it cannot ...
Robert Scott
That is a relevant point. To put this into context, my team in the inspectorate is very small. I have myself and three and a half full-time equivalent inspec...
Pauline McNeill
Lab
Yes. Thank you.
Sharon Dowey
Con
I will follow on from the questions that Rona Mackay asked. Can you give us more information about the procurement process? You talked about the equipment th...