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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S7W-02872

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 17 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to rolling out specialist lightweight personal protective equipment (PPE) to all firefighters.

The provision of appropriate firefighting kit is the responsibility of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). SFRS is committed to introducing a new generation of lightweight PPE certified for wildfire and other operational activities.

The Chief Fire Officer has provided assurances to the Scottish Government that firefighter safety is an absolute priority, that all specialist wildfire PPE and existing standard PPE in place is safe, and that the service is fully prepared and equipped to respond to wildfires.

Question reference: S7W-02867

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 17 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the availability of decontamination facilities for firefighters operating in prolonged incident environments, including wildfires.

The provision of decontamination facilities is an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).

Scottish Government is aware that the SFRS has established decontamination arrangements to support firefighters operating at prolonged incidents, including wildfires. Where local facilities are unavailable, alternative arrangements are in place to support access to decontamination facilities.

Question reference: S7W-02869

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 17 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether the recommendations of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Delivery Review adequately address the risks posed by climate change, including wildfires.

The Service Delivery Review was carried out to ensure that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) continues to provide a high level of service by realigning service provision to meet risk and demand.

Climate related emergencies are an increasing and evolving threat and the Service Delivery Review will lead to redistribution of resources to support emerging priorities including the preventative measures needed to continue to support the increase in these emergencies, including wildfires.

Question reference: S7W-02866

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 17 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether the current resources available to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are adequate to respond effectively in the event of multiple large-scale and protracted wildfires occurring simultaneously.

Deployment of resources is an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, (SFRS). As a national service it has the ability to strategically mobilise operational capabilities from across Scotland to meet operational risk and demand.

SFRS has established specialist wildfire capabilities, including Wildfire Tactical Advisors, dedicated wildfire support assets and specialist vehicles strategically placed throughout the country and have in place defined escalation arrangements for larger incidents.

The Scottish Government is assured that the SFRS continually reviews and develops its operational capability to respond to wildfire incidents, recognising that climate change is increasing both the frequency and complexity of wildfire events in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-02868

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 17 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the recent Cairngorms wildfire, what assessment it has made of whether best practice was adhered to in relation to cumulative exposure to toxic smoke, including guidance that firefighters should shower within one hour of such exposure.

Operational decision-making and decontamination procedures are matters for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).

SFRS has established procedures and guidance to reduce firefighters' exposure to contaminants, including guidance that personnel should shower as soon as reasonably practicable following exposure. SFRS continues to review operational activity and learning from significant incidents to inform ongoing improvements to firefighter health, safety and wellbeing.

There will be a multi-agency debrief to examine the specific circumstances of the recent Cairngorms wildfire incident.

Question reference: S7W-02952

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 17 September 2026

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.

Question reference: S7W-02960

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 17 September 2026

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.

Question reference: S7W-02957

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 17 September 2026

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.

Question reference: S7W-02959

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 17 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any correlation between reports of falling firefighter numbers and increased Scottish Fire and Rescue Service incident response times.

There are many causal factors influencing Operational Response Times and their change in recent years. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is supporting work being carried out by Northumbria University looking at why response times to incidents in Scotland are changing, and what this means for people and communities in Scotland. This is fundamental academic research – it is about improving the understanding of patterns and causes.

Question reference: S7W-02954

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 17 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how many fire stations require investment to ensure that they have (a) full decontamination facilities and (b) Changing Places toilets and appropriate washing and changing facilities for all firefighters.