The SNP Government has been told to drop its “aversion to scrutiny” after a senior minister dodged a query about the long-term costs of centralising public services.
Labour’s Katy Clark submitted a written question asking how much the budget of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has fallen in real terms since its creation in 2013.
But in his response, Justice Secretary Neil Gray made no mention of real terms cuts. He instead told Clark the merger was “intended to provide efficiencies through the reduction in duplication of the eight legacy fire and rescue services”.
He added: “The annual budget for SFRS has been set each year to provide the funding SFRS needs to keep communities safe” It comes as John Swinney has pledged to drastically reform Scotland’s public sector as his Government looks for ways to plug a £5 billion financial blackhole by 2030.
SNP ministers want to reduce the number of NHS regional boards from 14 to just two, and are also looking at forcing through mergers of numerous quangos.
Trade unions and opposition parties now fear that mistakes made during previous SNP-led public sector reforms will be repeated.
Scotland’s regional police constabularies and fire services were scrapped in 2013 and replaced with new nationwide services. The SFRS has since slashed the number of firefighters and closed or downgraded multiple fire stations.
Swinney has insisted compulsory redundancies are not on the cards as a result of his centralisation plans.
Scottish Labour justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill said: “This evasive response to Katy Clark is typical of the SNP’s aversion to scrutiny.
“It is insulting to hardworking SFRS staff and to the wider public that Neil Gray refuses to give a straight answer. The truth is that that centralisation of Fire and Rescue services has its benefits – but has also resulted in cuts to vital services and a lack of strategic planning for the future of the service, which is having a huge impact on our communities.
“SNP ministers should stop treating the public like fools and start being honest about the impact their choices have.”
A Fire Brigades Union (FBU) spokesman said: “The answer to the parliamentary question is disappointing but not surprising. While there has been a removal of duplication there has also been a removal of over 1,200 firefighter posts and multiple fire appliances, and recently proposals agreed to close stations and downgrade 24 hour cover in locations across the country.
“There is also a well documented eye-watering capital backlog of over £800 million with an estate that is, in the words of the SFRS themselves largely unfit for purpose.
“The Scottish Government are well aware of the difficulties facing the fire service and need to commit to a sustainable funding model that addresses the myriad of issues we face as a sector if they want to able to say that the funding they provide truly keeps communities safe.”
Justice Secretary Neil Gray said: “This year’s budget provides £436 million for SFRS – an increase of £23.8 million – to ensure it has the resources it needs to continue to keep Scotland’s communities safe.
“The SFRS has delivered on its reform objectives to provide its service in a more financially stable way, whilst protecting frontline services and ensuring they are fit for challenges the service faces.”
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