NE W S R E L E A S E EMBARGO, 00:01 Hrs THURSDAY JANUARY 23, 2003 STUC AND FBU WELCOME SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE COMMITMENT TO CONSULT ON FIRE SERVICE CHANGES
The Fire Brigades Union and the STUC today issued the following news release (PLEASE NOTE EMBARGO):
"The Scottish Regional Committee of the F.B.U. and the General Council of the STUC welcome commitments which have made by Hugh Henry, Deputy Justice Minister, regarding the future of the Fire Service in Scotland.
"Hugh Henry agreed, at a meeting held with FBU Officials on Monday, 20th January, 2003, that any proposed Executive policies that impinged on the future of the Fire Service in Scotland, including legislative reform, would be the subject of consultation with the FBU.
"This is an especially important development given the statement made on Monday of this week by the Deputy Prime Minister, regarding changes to the standards of fire cover in England in Wales. Obviously such changes, which the FBU believes would be detrimental to the safety of the public and firefighters alike, might also be implemented in Scotland.
"The agreement reached between the FBU Officials and the Deputy Justice Minister makes it clear that any proposed changes in the standards of fire cover in Scotland must be the subject of consultation with the Fire Brigades Union. The STUC and the FBU welcome this agreement, which is a concrete example of the STUC/Scottish Executive Memorandum of Understanding working in practice.
"The STUC and the FBU look forward jointly, and with some urgency, to discussions and consultative meetings with the Deputy Justice Minister on the future of the Fire Service in Scotland. We are confident that Hugh Henry will ensure that local communities and politicians are also widely consulted."
Bill Speirs John McDonald, EC member General Secretary FBU Scotland STUC