Chamber
Plenary, 10 Sep 2009
10 Sep 2009 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Fire and Rescue Framework
During the past three years there has been an increase of 12 per cent in revenue funding, which I think we all welcome. I assure the member that cost cutting will not be the aim of the review of IRMP, which we have just initiated, and I hope that all members will contribute to the review.
As Minister for Community Safety, I want to convey the Scottish Government's recognition of the important community safety work that is undertaken by the 9,000 people who are employed in Scotland's fire and rescue services. During the past year alone, the services have registered almost 50,000 home fire safety visits. However, much more needs to be done. As part of our commitment to reducing fires and fire deaths, I have asked Brian Sweeney to report on what more can be done to reduce such instances. His report will be published shortly, and I look forward to hearing what he has to say.
In the Scottish Fire Services College we have an enviable national approach to the workforce. The Scottish Government's commitment is represented by a £6 million annual investment in core and specialist training. Following initial training, the development and maintenance of a firefighter's skills is managed by the FRS, which, at watch or station manager level, is best placed to monitor and address the training needs of firefighters. As is outlined in the new framework, we are assessing the training needs analysis that is submitted by each FRS. In partnership with COSLA and the services, we will agree future training—including realistic fire training—strategies for all firefighters in Scotland.
I focus for a moment on our retained, volunteer and community support firefighters. Some 3,600 individuals serve our rural and island communities and many other parts of Scotland. They crew 75 per cent of all fire appliances in Scotland, and they attended 34,000 incidents last year alone. Without them we would not have an effective fire service in many of our rural and island communities. I pay tribute to them. Our commitment to the retained service was highlighted when we worked with colleagues in Westminster to defeat proposed changes to the European working time directive. That legislative issue highlighted why we must continue to work with partners to deliver fire cover that is designed to meet local risks and is flexible enough to ensure that we are ready to meet challenges, wherever they arise.
The draft framework underlines our commitment to working in partnership with local government. Our firefighters are among the best in the world. They serve the people of Scotland with skill and professionalism, they display a tremendous enthusiasm for their work, and they help many youngsters to develop and grow in confidence. The new framework is designed to ensure that our fire and rescue services focus on what they are best placed to deliver: reducing risk, responding effectively to incidents, supporting national resilience and improving the safety of our local communities.
I am happy to move,
That the Parliament welcomes the Scottish Government's commitment to a fire and rescue service that is modern and effective, with the principal aim of reducing risk, effectively responding to incidents and improving the safety of local communities; notes that the consultation document, Draft Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland 2009, has been developed in a spirit of partnership with COSLA and all key stakeholders, and notes that the Scottish Government is committed to working with local government to protect the public from fire and to reduce Scotland's poor record of fire fatalities.
As Minister for Community Safety, I want to convey the Scottish Government's recognition of the important community safety work that is undertaken by the 9,000 people who are employed in Scotland's fire and rescue services. During the past year alone, the services have registered almost 50,000 home fire safety visits. However, much more needs to be done. As part of our commitment to reducing fires and fire deaths, I have asked Brian Sweeney to report on what more can be done to reduce such instances. His report will be published shortly, and I look forward to hearing what he has to say.
In the Scottish Fire Services College we have an enviable national approach to the workforce. The Scottish Government's commitment is represented by a £6 million annual investment in core and specialist training. Following initial training, the development and maintenance of a firefighter's skills is managed by the FRS, which, at watch or station manager level, is best placed to monitor and address the training needs of firefighters. As is outlined in the new framework, we are assessing the training needs analysis that is submitted by each FRS. In partnership with COSLA and the services, we will agree future training—including realistic fire training—strategies for all firefighters in Scotland.
I focus for a moment on our retained, volunteer and community support firefighters. Some 3,600 individuals serve our rural and island communities and many other parts of Scotland. They crew 75 per cent of all fire appliances in Scotland, and they attended 34,000 incidents last year alone. Without them we would not have an effective fire service in many of our rural and island communities. I pay tribute to them. Our commitment to the retained service was highlighted when we worked with colleagues in Westminster to defeat proposed changes to the European working time directive. That legislative issue highlighted why we must continue to work with partners to deliver fire cover that is designed to meet local risks and is flexible enough to ensure that we are ready to meet challenges, wherever they arise.
The draft framework underlines our commitment to working in partnership with local government. Our firefighters are among the best in the world. They serve the people of Scotland with skill and professionalism, they display a tremendous enthusiasm for their work, and they help many youngsters to develop and grow in confidence. The new framework is designed to ensure that our fire and rescue services focus on what they are best placed to deliver: reducing risk, responding effectively to incidents, supporting national resilience and improving the safety of our local communities.
I am happy to move,
That the Parliament welcomes the Scottish Government's commitment to a fire and rescue service that is modern and effective, with the principal aim of reducing risk, effectively responding to incidents and improving the safety of local communities; notes that the consultation document, Draft Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland 2009, has been developed in a spirit of partnership with COSLA and all key stakeholders, and notes that the Scottish Government is committed to working with local government to protect the public from fire and to reduce Scotland's poor record of fire fatalities.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alex Fergusson):
NPA
Good morning. The first item of business this morning is a debate on motion S3M-4810, in the name of Fergus Ewing, on the fire and rescue framework.We have a...
The Minister for Community Safety (Fergus Ewing):
SNP
The Scottish Government requested this debate to give the Parliament an opportunity to discuss our continued commitment to ensuring that Scotland has an effi...
Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab):
Lab
As part of the review, will the minister ensure that IRMP is not just about cost cutting, but does what it is supposed to do?
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
During the past three years there has been an increase of 12 per cent in revenue funding, which I think we all welcome. I assure the member that cost cutting...
Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab):
Lab
I concur with the minister's remarks in respect of the late Ewan Williamson, and on behalf of my party I send our condolences to his family during this diffi...
Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD):
LD
We will support both the motion and Labour's amendment.I listened carefully to the minister's comments, and I am grateful for the insight that he gave the Pa...
Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP):
SNP
I appreciate that the member acknowledges the importance of the work that retained firefighters do. In that light, can he explain why the only Lib Dem member...
Robert Brown:
LD
I think that I am right in saying that my colleague, the former member of the European Parliament for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, took a particular view ...
John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con):
Con
I endorse the comments of the minister and others on the tragic loss of Ewan Williamson.The Scottish Conservatives welcome the publication of the "Draft Fire...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
We come to the open debate. I repeat that we have some flexibility with time, so members should feel free to take interventions.
Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I associate myself with the minister's remarks on the tragic death of Ewan Williamson. I know that the thoughts of all members go out to his friends, his fam...
Robert Brown:
LD
Has Stewart Maxwell been struck, as I have been, by the fact that the majority of fatal casualties occur in fires in dwellings in which smoke detectors are n...
Stewart Maxwell:
SNP
Robert Brown makes a salient point. There has been huge success in bringing smoke detectors to the public's attention. Many people install them and change th...
Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab):
Lab
I express my sincere condolences to the family of Ewan Williamson for their grievous loss. I also state my admiration for the bravery of my fellow trade unio...
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
It might be useful to make it clear that the Government has an entirely open mind in respect of governance issues. We appreciate and have discussed with the ...
Bill Butler:
Lab
I am grateful to the minister for his assertion that the Government has an open mind on governance issues. That chimes with his opening speech, in which he s...
Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP):
SNP
Like other members, I associate myself with the minister's tribute to Ewan Williamson. Many firefighters in my constituency knew and worked with Ewan. I also...
Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
I, too, associate myself with members' comments about Ewan Williamson.I will be fairly brief and will concentrate on a subject that has been mentioned only i...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
That is a good time to stop, certainly.
Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD):
LD
It is a pity that we could not have had this debate yesterday, when I understand that an unusually high number of emergency service personnel from throughout...
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
Is the member aware that I have an excellent relationship with Mr Raeburn from his party?
Jim Tolson:
LD
I was not aware of that detail. However, when it comes to working with others, the minister might recall that, when the Liberal Democrats raised the issue of...
Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to debate the Government's draft fire and rescue framework. Like other members, I pay tribute to Scotland's 8,310 firefighters and ...
Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab):
Lab
It would be hard to criticise the Scottish Government's motion or the minister's sincere speech. However, I am sure the minister agrees that there are issues...
Nigel Don (North East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Like colleagues, I pay tribute to the work and dedication of the fire service. The untimely death of Ewan Williamson reminds us that some of the jobs that ar...
Stewart Maxwell:
SNP
I appreciate that we are in the early days and that there are not many statistics on the impact. We should not jump to conclusions too early, but it is certa...
Nigel Don:
SNP
That is my very point: we should not have to wait very long. After all, good ideas do not necessarily need to come with too many statistics attached. Althoug...
Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab):
Lab
I am pleased to take part in this debate. Like other members, I pay tribute to Ewan Williamson, who gave his life serving his community.The motion and amendm...
Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I add my condolences to those of my colleagues from throughout the Parliament to Ewan Williamson's family, friends and colleagues. I pay tribute to all our f...
Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab):
Lab
It is important to provide clarification that the point is not about firefighters enforcing the standards; it is about the services around them, and ensuring...