Call-out figures prompt demands for emergency services to be 'properly equipped'
The Scottish Liberal Democrats have called for emergency services to be properly equipped'' after figures revealed they were set to respond to around 60,000 call-outs over the festive period.
Ambulance, police and fire services were called out 61,157 times between December 23 and January 4 in 2015/16, up from 54,399 the previous year.
The Lib Dems said the statistics reflected the need to adequately fund the services.
Police Scotland responded to 34,164 of last year's festive call-outs.
An Audit Scotland report published earlier this month found that police services in Scotland faced a projected budget gap of almost ÂŁ190 million by 2020/21.
Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton said: Police officers, ambulance crews, firefighters, nurses, doctors and many more routinely put the needs of the public before their own.
Volunteers are out assisting people too, from the high street to the highest mountains. We can't thank them enough.''
He added: But what we can do is seek to match their commitment and ensure that they are properly equipped to do their jobs.
For example, the Scottish Government can't ignore any longer the black hole in police's budget.
We are seeing the consequences of this across the service, from reports of officers buying kit in charity shops to more days being lost due to mental ill health.''
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: I am grateful to our blue light service and support staff who are working through the festive period to keep our communities safe.
This government provides significant financial support for our emergency services. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) funding is set to rise next year to more than ÂŁ290 million, while our increased funding for the Scottish Ambulance Service will help train an additional 200 paramedics this financial year.
Our draft budget continues to protect police revenue funding in real terms, as well as providing continued reform funding, giving an overall increase to the SPA (Scottish Police Authority) budget that also meets the VAT costs imposed by the UK government.''
He added: Clearly the financial support we are providing for Scotland's frontline emergency services would go much further if Police Scotland and SFRS were able to recover VAT, like all other fire services and territorial police forces in the UK.
The First Minister and Finance Secretary discussed this issue with the Chancellor earlier this month and will write to him setting out the anomalies the VAT situation creates, and the impact it has.''