This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Minster meets FBU representatives
20/01/2003
Deputy Minister for Justice, Hugh Henry met
representatives of the FBU this morning in Edinburgh.
The meeting provided the Minister with the opportunity
to hear the views of the FBU representatives' on changes to
fire service legislation.
Speaking after the meeting the Minister said:
"I had a constructive meeting today with the FBU's
Scottish representatives.
"The Scottish Executive believes that there needs to be
a change in the legislation to enable the modernisation of
fire services in Scotland.
"I was able to confirm that the Executive will consult
fully on any future proposals to change legislation.
"I emphasised that local decisions need to be made by
local decision makers. I believe that the deployment of a
brigade's firefighting resources should be a matter for the
brigade and its fire authority, who in turn are accountable
to their local community. It cannot be right, for example,
that Ministerial approval has to be sought to re-locate
fire vehicles around a fire authorities area.
"Continued consultation at a local level is crucial. I
would expect authorities, as they are required to do now,
to continue to consult on local changes. Any move to a risk
management approach to fire cover would be accompanied by
guidance on consultation, reinforced by statutory backing
if that seems appropriate."
On the forthcoming strike action Mr Henry said,
"I am very disappointed that the next strike is still
planned to take place on Tuesday and there will be more in
the following weeks. Although the pay negotiations are
being held at an UK level I will continue to meet Scottish
FBU representatives to discuss matters of common
concern.
"Strike action is damaging and dangerous. The only way
to settle this is through negotiation and I would urge the
FBU, even at this stage, to carefully reconsider pressing
forward with further strike action.
"This dispute is only going to be resolved by
negotiation and through dialogue and I hope that progress
is made in the talks this week."