Fire (Scotland) Act 2005

40 Framework document

(1) The Scottish Ministers shall prepare a document—

(a) setting out priorities and objectives for relevant authorities in connection with the carrying out of their functions; and

(b) containing—

(i) such guidance in connection with the carrying out of any of those functions; and

(ii) such other matters relating to those authorities or those functions,

as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.

(2) The Scottish Ministers—

(a) shall keep the document prepared under subsection (1) under review; and

(b) may from time to time revise it.

(3) The Scottish Ministers shall carry out the functions conferred on them by subsection (1) and (2) in the manner and to the extent that appears to them to be best calculated to promote—

(a) public safety;

(b) the efficiency and effectiveness of fire and rescue authorities; and

(c) efficiency and effectiveness in connection with the matters in relation to which relevant authorities have functions.

(4) The document prepared under subsection (1), and any revision of it which appears to the Scottish Ministers to be significant, shall have effect only when brought into effect by the Scottish Ministers by order.

(5) In preparing—

(a) the document mentioned in subsection (1); and

(b) any revision of it which appears to them to be significant,

the Scottish Ministers shall consult the persons mentioned in subsection (6).

(6) Those persons are—

(a) each relevant authority or such persons as the Scottish Ministers consider represent those authorities; and

(b) such persons as the Scottish Ministers consider represent employees of those authorities.