Chamber and committees

Decisions on how resources are deployed, including the operation of contact, command and control services, are matters for the Chief Constable, reflecting the operational independence of policing. Police Scotland has been very clear that 101 is a non-emergency number and callers are advised of other means by which they can contact the service while on hold.

The Scottish Government is providing record funding of over £1.7 billion for policing in 2026–27, giving Police Scotland the resources it needs to maintain a resilient and responsive service, including the 101 service.

We expect that investment to support effective and accessible services for the public, and to ensure communities continue to receive the prompt and reliable policing response they deserve.

As set out in the answer to question S6W-42445, the Terms of Reference for the Emma Caldwell Inquiry were developed following consultation with the Chair and discussions with relevant parties. The Terms of Reference remain firmly focused on the original investigation into Emma’s death, while being framed with sufficient breadth to enable the Inquiry Chair to consider any wider matters he considers pertinent to the Inquiry. From its setting up date on 9 December 2025, this statutory Public Inquiry is now independent of Ministers and the Chair is responsible for directing the Inquiry to deliver the Terms of Reference.

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 response times or station demand 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.

According to the latest Fire Safety and Organisational Statistics 2024-25, published in August 2025, the Service has 356 stations and two thirds of these stations, 240, are primarily crewed by on-call duty firefighters, and a further 42 are volunteer stations.

The judgement has been issued in the litigation brought by For Women Scotland in relation to the Scottish Prison Service’s policy on the management of transgender people in custody. The Scottish Government has carefully considered the judgment and has decided not to appeal.

The Scottish Prison Service is considering the implications of the judgement and has withdrawn the previous policy while that work is undertaken.

During the course of the litigation, it was appropriate that matters relating to the case were addressed through the court process. The proceedings are still live pending the final procedural steps being taken and the Scottish Government will focus on implementing the judgment in accordance with the law.

The Scottish Government regularly engages with a wide range of organisations and stakeholders on issues relating to equality, justice and human rights. As with any stakeholder, any request for a meeting, made after the court proceedings are fully concluded, would be considered in the usual way.

I met with senior personnel in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on the following occasions, since the start of this parliament:

1. a - 4 June 2026

b - Stuart Stevens, SFRS Chief Officer

2. a - 11 June 2026

b - Andy Watt, SFRS Deputy Chief Officer and David Farries, SFRS Assistant Chief Officer

The Scottish Government has published a list of the Special Advisers and their specific portfolio responsibilities at: Special advisers - gov.scot

The cost of employing Special Advisers during 2026-27, including pay band information, will be published in line with the requirements of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.

The Service Delivery Review consultation responses, were published on 15 June 2026, and are available on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service website: Service Delivery Review Public Consultation Survey Raw Data | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board took decisions on its Service Delivery Review on 22 June 2026.

I had a meeting with the Chair of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board on 4 June 2026.

The Service Delivery Review (SDR) is not a cost-saving exercise; it is a safety focussed modernisation programme designed to ensure Scotland has a fire and rescue service fit for the future and new risks.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Board approved the recommendation to create two new fire stations at Tranent in East Lothian and Cowcaddens in Glasgow, requiring a £20.074 million capital investment. Any financial savings resulting from the review, for example from removing the running costs of maintaining long-term dormant stations, will be re-invested in the service. 69 wholetime firefighters will be redirected to the essential training and prevention functions in SFRS.

The SDR consolidates the £7.8 million resources budget savings that were delivered through the temporary appliance withdrawals introduced in 2023. In addition, the appraisal identifies £42.650 million in potential future capital investment that may be avoided. This reflects a reduction in future estate investment pressures rather than a budget saving. Details of this can be found on the Board paper (link: https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/publications/document/?id=9704).

All of the Service Delivery Review options were subject to an equality impact assessment and an assessment of their impact on island communities by SFRS. The Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessments (EHRIA) for each proposed option for change were published on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service website: SFRS Board, 20260622, Papers | Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (link: https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/publications/document/?id=9704).