Scottish Fire and Rescue Service: governance and accountability framework 2024

Relationship between Scottish Government and SFRS

9. Effective strategic engagement between the SG and SFRS is essential in order that they work together as effectively as possible to maintain and improve public services and deliver improved outcomes. Both the SG and SFRS will take all necessary steps to ensure that their relationship is developed and supported in line with the jointly agreed principles set out in the statement on ‘Strategic Engagement between the Scottish Government and Scotland’s SFRS’.

10. The Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland (2022) sets out the strategic priorities for the SFRS, as determined by the Scottish Ministers. The SFRS Strategic Plan will then describe how the SFRS intends to carry out its functions in order to deliver those priorities. The SFRS's primary statutory functions are set out in the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 ("the 2005 Act"), as amended by the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, as well as the Fire (Additional Function) (Scotland) Order 2005 ("the 2005 Order"). As a public body, SFRS will also be subject to a range of other statutory functions, including duties under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and the Equality Act 2010.