28 June 2002
The service urgently needs 35 new stations, 22 engines and basic equipment. A £500,000 feasibility study from consultancy Deloitte & Touche, which was part-funded by the Executive, recommends a public-private partnership as the solution.
But unions and Labour's political opponents have reacted furiously.
Unison claimed that the public sector could provide everything that the service required for £111m. The cost to the taxpayer over the 30-year life of the potential PPP is believed to be £191m.
John Swinney, the Scottish National Party leader, condemned the plans and called for an emergency statement in the Scottish Parliament. 'Yet again Labour have been caught out saying one thing while doing another. They obviously intend to use Scotland as a guinea pig for privatising our fire brigades but are determined to hide their plans from the public,' he said.
But an Executive spokeswoman insisted that the running of the fire service would stay in the public sector. 'There is no intention of privatising the fire brigade, as ministers have made clear in Parliament,' she said.
'Fire services will remain a statutory local government responsibility. The Scottish Executive has contributed to the cost of the Highlands and Islands feasibility study which is looking at the possibility of using private finance to maintain buildings and equipment.'
PFjun2002
