Sturgeon addresses service fears

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has made clear that the fire service in Scotland “can not stand still” despite concerns stations and firefighters are to be cut.

A leaked document from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service this week revealed that the brigade was looking at the possibility of having to “rebalance” staff numbers and review its “station footprint”.

Chief Fire Officer Alasdair Hay confirmed on Wednesday that staffing issues mean 60 to 100 fire engines are out of operation every day across Scotland.

Community Safety Minister Annabelle Ewing has already told MSPs that no decisions had been made on the proposals – which Mr Hay had earlier described as a “fundamental redesign of the service”.

But Ms Sturgeon was pressed on the issue at First Minister’s Questions, with Labour MSP Neil Findlay raising concerns.

He asked the SNP leader if “cutting yet more firefighter posts and closing fire stations” would either “make our communities safer” or would instead “put more lives at risk”.

He added: “If you don’t know the answer have a guess.”

The national organisation was formed in 2013 from the merger of the eight regional brigades. Since then the number of firefighters has fallen by 700 – although the Scottish Government has stressed there have been no compulsory redundancies and no station closures.