This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New radio system for the fire and rescue service
06/04/2006
Scotland's fire and rescue services are to get a state-of-the-art digital radio system that will be compatible with those of other 'blue light' services.
The new system - known as Firelink - will be rolled out over the next three years, with the Executive meeting the bulk of the cost in Scotland.
The new system will cost a total of £350 million across Great Britain, with costs being shared by England, Wales and Scotland.
All Scottish fire and rescue services, as well as those fire services in England and Wales, will have the same system, making it easier for them to communicate with each other.
Firelink will also be compatible with the Airwave radio system used by police forces across Great Britain, and which is also being considered by the ambulance service.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said:
"I am delighted to announce that Scotland will be joining the GB procurement of a new digital radio system, subject to finalisation of contract details.
"We want Scotland's firefighters to have the best possible equipment to match the expertise, professionalism and bravery they bring to the job each and every day. Only by matching the quality of our people with high-quality equipment can we provide the best possible service to communities.
"Firelink will replace a patchwork of ageing systems with a modern, digital system that will enable fire and rescue services to communicate with each other and with the other emergency services - locally, regionally and nationally. Firelink brings fire and rescue service wide area radio communications into the 21st century with the levels of resilience and interoperability that these challenging times require.
"It will improve the ability of fire and rescue services to respond to all kinds of emergencies - ranging from major catastrophes requiring a co-ordinated response by a number of services, to smaller-scale incidents which represent the Service's main day to day business.
"We are committed to supporting Scotland's fire-fighters in helping the public live safer, daily lives. The most fundamental modernisation of fire services since the Second World War, backed by a record £300 million in investment in 2006/07, have already shown the strength of our commitment. My announcement today reinforces that commitment yet further."
Firelink is being procured on a Great Britain-wide basis. The Firelink procurement is being taken forward in partnership with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Welsh Assembly Government, and the Scottish Executive has been closely involved with the project since its inception.
On March 29, 2006 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister signed a contract with the Firelink supplier O2 Airwave, who are also supplying the new Airwave radio system for GB police forces. Scotland will join the Firelink project in the near future, subject to finalisation of the contractual details and administrative arrangements between the Executive, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Welsh Assembly Government.
Firelink will cost a total of around £350 million across Great Britain, with the costs to be shared between England, Scotland and Wales. The full details of Scotland's contribution are under discussion with the other administrations and will be finalised and announced in the early summer.
Firelink will provide a new wide area radio system for communications between command and control facilities and vehicles. Local area radio networks - for example, handsets used by firefighters at individual incidents - are not included in the project.