Kenny MacAskill, Scottish cabinet secretary for Justice

The Scottish Government have today announced a huge proposed reform of Scottish fire and rescue services that will mean the creation of a single combined department.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill says that the move will bring local services to the heart of communities, but critics fear that it will mean less accountability at a local level.

Under the plans, which will also create a single unified Police Service of Scotland, the new Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will be established with a Chief Officer overseeing designated local fire officers for each local authority area.

The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill will create stronger ties between the fire service and local authorities, as senior officers will have to have their local plan for rescue services approved by the council, giving many more councillors a say in the running of their local service than at present.

The service will be independent, with no operational control by government, but still subject to Parliamentary scrutiny from ministers.

“Stark reality” of budget cuts from Westminster

Mr MacAskill launched the bill at an event in Galashiels where he cited “budget cuts from Westminster” as one of the key reasons for the reform.

He said, "This Government will not be complacent, we will not compromise on public safety and we will make sure that every community is served and served well.

“The reasons for reform are clear. We need to make a virtue of necessity. Make no mistake – this is the only way to make sure that we don’t lose the major improvements made to police and fire and rescue services in recent years.

“We have devised the strongest possible plans for the future of police and fire services in Scotland which reduce duplication, not the quality of vital services, and deliver estimated efficiency savings of £1.7 billion over 15 years. Today’s publication of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill follows two consultations and many months of sustained, regular engagement with police, fire and escue services, boards, authorities and other interested parties.”

Statutory duty

The police and fire services will both have a statutory duty to provide ‘adequate local services’, and as part of this will agree local plans for policing and fire services with the local authority, setting out priorities, objectives and the practical arrangements for delivering services.

The Chief Fire Officers Association (Scotland) welcomed the proposals, with chair Jimmy Campbell saying, “This draft Bill marks an important and very positive step forward on the road to a new Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and we look forward to working with the Scottish Government in shaping its content.

“Fire reform presents us with a rare opportunity to build a new Fire and Rescue Service; one that continues the first class reputation we have established and that fully meets the needs of the Scottish people.

“It also represents a considerable challenge, and over the coming months we will be working with Government, our staff, trade unions and all stakeholders to ensure we deliver a Service of which we, and Scotland, can be justly proud.”

The Justice Secretary called on “all parties to get behind this legislation to secure the future of our police and fire and resuce services.”

The bill, which is available in full here, could be approved and the fire service up and running by as early as April 2013, sources said.