Emergency and Non-emergency Services Call Centres (PE1510)
Inverness Fire Service Control Room (PE1511)
I think that we have to be careful in our use of language. I am not saying that Alison McInnes was being intemperate, but when we talk about things such as public safety, we must remember the importance of the public having confidence in the services. It would be very easy for me to say, “That’s a great idea—let’s support it,” and to put out a press release about it without acknowledging that a lot of work is going on behind the scenes.
Members of the public often talk about the issue of local knowledge erroneously, albeit in good faith. We need to be very temperate when we discuss the issue. Public safety is not being compromised, because it could not be compromised.
It might be worth asking the Scottish Police Federation and the Fire Brigades Union for their views. I know that the FBU had concerns about the closures. It would be helpful to get an idea of whether the people who represent the emergency workers are aware of or concerned about any difficulties.
We should ensure that PE1510 is drawn to the attention of the inspectorates before they give evidence on 19 August, so that they are fully aware of the concerns.
Has the Public Petitions Committee considered the issue? We should check with it to see whether it has asked for anything.
The Public Petitions Committee did not take evidence from the petitioners.
Rather than selecting a group of people to write to, we might put information on our website about the fact that, on 19 August, we will take evidence from the inspectorates and to say anyone can submit issues to us in advance, either collectively or individually. We do not want to leave out people who want to comment.
If we put out a call for evidence for the evidence-taking session, we will give people the whole of July and the beginning of August to respond. That should catch everyone. Of course, this discussion is also on the record.
I would particularly like to hear from emergency planning authorities. They might not necessarily pick up the fact that there is a call for evidence.
I am advised that there are distribution lists, which will be used as well. I do not want to write to just one group. If we use the normal distribution lists and issue a general call for evidence, anyone who wants to give us information in advance of that session can do so. That does not close anything down; it just seems an appropriate way to deal with it.
I see that Christian Allard wants to ask a question. I thought that we had agreed what to do, but perhaps not.
No, we are agreed. I just want to know whether the Justice Sub-Committee on Policing has done any work on the issue that we should be aware of before the evidence-taking session.
Not as far as I know.
I am informed that petitioners spoke to both petitions before the Public Petitions Committee, but that the committee did not conduct an inquiry, as such. We will get the information before us.
We have to have all the paperwork.
Yes, we will get it all.
Do members agree to our taking the suggested action?
Members indicated agreement.
10:08 Meeting continued in private until 10:19.
Item 3 is consideration of two petitions. PE1510, by Jody Curtis, on behalf of emergency service and non-emergency service call centres, calls on the Scottish Parliament to undertake a committee inquiry into the closure of police, fire and non-emergency service centres north of Dundee. PE1511, by Laura Ross, calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to review the decision by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to close the Inverness fire control room.
The Public Petitions Committee referred the petitions to this committee, with a request that we raise the issues highlighted in the petitions at our evidence session with the chief inspector of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the inspector of constabulary on 19 August. Are members content to consider the terms of the petitions during that evidence session? As a courtesy, we could also inform the Justice Sub-Committee on Policing that we are looking at PE1510. Any decision to do that does not mean that the petition will then be closed; it is just that it might be better to wait until then. I invite comments.
These are worthwhile petitions. There is still a lot of concern, certainly in my communities in North East Scotland, about the stripping away of these assets, which remains controversial. In advance of our meeting, could we write to emergency planning authorities to ask for their views on the closures and the capacity of their areas to respond to major incidents, just to inform our discussions?
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