NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WEDNESDAY 8 JANUARY 2003
STUC welcomes Scottish parliament decision on fire services
Commenting on the defeat of the Scottish Executive today in the Scottish Parliament when they tried to repeal Section 19 of the Fire Services Act (which gives the public the right to appeal to Ministers against the closure of fire stations) STUC General Secretary Bill Speirs said:
"I know that the Executive were not trying to use the legislation to attack fire service provision in Scotland, and to attack the Fire Brigades Union, as some people will claim.
But they made a mistake in trying to rush through important changes in the law, which is why the STUC General Council this morning called for them to drop this amendment, and why we are delighted that MSPs across the political spectrum called a halt.
If anyone thinks that the Scottish Parliament cannot make a difference, they should know different now. Yesterday the Westminster Parliament abolished the right of the public to appeal to Ministers against a decision to close a fire station: today our Scottish Parliament upheld that right."
ENDS
Further Comment: Bill Speirs