Sturgeon fails to rule out further job cuts for fire service

NICOLA Sturgeon refused to rule out further cuts to the fire service yesterday despite growing concerns following the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Fears have been raised over the plummeting number of firefighters and fire safety inspection officers in Scotland, with claims year-on-year cuts make it ‘very difficult to cope’.

On Wednesday, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) told a Holyrood committee that reductions in staff must be addressed as a matter of urgency.

Yesterday, Scottish Labour deputy leader Alex Rowley highlighted the loss of hundreds of firefighting jobs in recent years, as he called on Miss Sturgeon to rule out further cuts. But Miss Sturgeon insisted it was down to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to maintain staffing numbers

Mr Rowley said: ‘Despite assurances from ministers to protect the frontline, the FBU say that over 700 frontline firefighter jobs have gone.

‘There are growing concerns about adequate staffing levels and the future of fire stations. Will the First Minister give an assurance to parliament that there will be no further job cuts in our fire service and no programme of fire service closures introduced across Scotland?’

Miss Sturgeon said: ‘I give an absolute assurance that we will continue to work with the fire service and work in dialogue with the FBU to make sure we are protecting those who keep us safe from fire.

‘It is the responsibility of the fire and rescue service to make sure they have the right staff doing the right jobs in the right place.’

‘Concerns about staffing levels’