The Act – Section by Section Part 2 – Fire and Rescue Services Chapter 6 – Mutual assistance etc. Sections 36 and 37 – Arrangements for carrying out of functions by others
56.Section 36 extends powers in the 1947 Act to provide relevant authorities with the ability to enter into contractual arrangements with others (including other relevant authorities) to provide services in the execution of their functions (covered by sections 8 to 11, 13 and 61). An example would be an agreement where a relevant authority contracts with a local authority to promote fire safety within its schools. Another example would be where a relevant authority specialises in rope rescue and a neighbouring relevant authority contracts with it to provide some, or all, of its response to incidents requiring rope rescue.
57.However, a relevant authority can only delegate its fire-fighting functions to another authority or others that employ fire-fighters.
58.Section 37 re-enacts provisions in the 1947 Act that provide the Scottish Ministers with the ability to require relevant authorities to enter into contractual arrangements under section 36 (or to vary or cancel any such arrangements). The Scottish Ministers can exercise the power on their own initiative, but the power must be exercised in the interests of economy, efficiency and effectiveness.
59.Before issuing a direction, the Scottish Ministers must give the relevant authorities concerned the opportunity to make representations to them and they may hold an inquiry.