Asked by: Clark, Katy (Scottish Labour - West Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding would have been allocated to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in the 2026-27 Budget had its funding had been increased in line with inflation in each year since its creation in 2013.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
SFRS was formed in April 2013 and the Resource budget for its first year of operations in 2013-14 was £277.23 million. Adjusting that figure using the GDP deflators that are published by the OBR at UK fiscal events, means the equivalent annual budget for 2026-27 would be £399.99m.
The SFRS Capital budget for 2013-14 was £15.292m. Using the same adjustments means the equivalent annual budget for 2026-27 would be £22m.
The non-fiscal element of the SFRS budget has not been included for the comparison of the impact of inflation. For reference, this figure was £22.02 million in 2013-14. Whilst this element is included in the total budget allocated to SFRS each year, the amount is allocated on the basis of actual cost to SFRS to cover accounting elements such as depreciation. As such, this element of the SFRS budget is not subject to inflationary pressures.
Asked by: Clark, Katy (Scottish Labour - West Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average incident response time has been for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in each year since its creation.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
SFRS publishes Fire Safety and Organisational statistics and Incident statistics on their website https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/about/statistics/, the next edition of Incident statistics is expected on 30 October 2026. There are currently no official statistics on the average incident response times in Scotland.
SFRS continues to respond to every emergency incident with the appropriate level of resources. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's (SFRS) Operations Control rooms dynamically mobilise fire appliances based on their real-time location and availability, rather than fixed station response areas. This approach ensures that the nearest available resource is always deployed to achieve the quickest possible response time.
Asked by: Kerr, Stephen (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Mid Scotland and Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in commissioning an independent review of the culture of the Scottish Prison Service.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government and has responsibility for operation of prisons including staffing:
SPS commissioned an independent review of organisational culture in November 2024 and, following a competitive tender exercise, appointed CROWE to undertake the review. During 2025, CROWE carried out site visits and engaged with staff, senior leaders and individuals in custody. SPS received the final report in March 2026. The report has been shared with senior leaders and engagement sessions are being undertaken to discuss the findings and recommendations ahead of its wider communication to staff and publication on our external website.
Asked by: Clark, Katy (Scottish Labour - West Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's capital backlog.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
The most recent available information on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s capital backlog is contained within the SFRS Risk Based Capital Investment Plan 2025.
Risk Based Capital Investment Plan 2025 | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
Audit Scotland and His Majesty’s Fire Service Inspectorate in Scotland are currently carrying out a joint audit and inspection of SFRS’s management of estate, fleet and equipment. This report is expected to be published in March 2027.
Asked by: Clark, Katy (Scottish Labour - West Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the extent to which the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's budget has fallen in real terms since its creation in 2013.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
The formation of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service as a single national organisation was intended to provide efficiencies through the reduction in duplication of the 8 legacy fire and rescue services. The Annual budget for SFRS has been set each year to provide the funding SFRS needs to keep communities safe.
Asked by: Clark, Katy (Scottish Labour - West Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has taken to provide suitable alternative roles to firefighters who are below normal retirement age but are unable to continue in their operational role.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
This is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The information requested is not held centrally. The member may wish to contact the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service directly.
Asked by: Clark, Katy (Scottish Labour - West Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times, in each of the last 10 years, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service control rooms have operated below safe staffing levels.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
This is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The information requested is not held centrally. The member may wish to contact the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service directly.
Asked by: Kerr, Stephen (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Mid Scotland and Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is implementing to protect prison staff and their families from intimidation, coercion and corrupting influences by serious organised crime groups.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government and has responsibility for operation of prisons including staffing.
The safety of all those who live and work in Scotland’s prisons is a key priority for SPS and this government.
SPS has a range of measures in place to support the safety of people working in prisons. These include robust recruitment and vetting processes, close partnership working with Police Scotland, mandatory professional boundaries training for all Prison Officers and a comprehensive Anti-Corruption Policy. Staff are supported to identify and report concerns through confidential reporting processes, with all concerns thoroughly investigated.
SPS is also introducing Body Worn Video Cameras (BWVCs), with implementation currently being rolled out across all establishments. The use of BWVCs will help enhance the safe and secure running of prisons across the estate, supporting both staff safety and any criminal investigations where appropriate.
Asked by: Clark, Katy (Scottish Labour - West Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many wildfires the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has recorded each year since its creation.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
Statistical information concerning wildfires and associated data collection is compiled by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, (SFRS). The Service publishes two statistical bulletins annually, which are Fire Safety and Organisational Statistic and Incident Statistics.
SFRS has provided the following information on wildfires attended by year:
Wildfires attended by year
Calendar Year | Total |
2013 | 394 |
2014 | 123 |
2015 | 111 |
2016 | 103 |
2017 | 192 |
2018 | 210 |
2019 | 179 |
2020 | 103 |
2021 | 143 |
2022 | 146 |
2023 | 145 |
2024 | 55 |
2025 | 238 |
Asked by: Kerr, Stephen (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Mid Scotland and Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding and resources are being provided to deliver comprehensive, trauma-informed neurodivergence training to all prison officers.
Answered by Gray, Neil - Cabinet Secretary for Justice
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government and has responsibility for operation of prisons including staffing.
Resources currently available to prison officers include Trauma Informed Practice training, access to NHS Education for Scotland’s Developing Your Trauma Skilled Practice online modules, and trauma-informed practice content delivered through the Officer Foundation Programme. The costs associated with developing and delivering these resources are incorporated within the overall SPS training budget.