(1)The Scottish Ministers may issue a direction (an “emergency direction”) requiring a relevant authority to—
(a)take such action; or
(b)refrain from taking such action,
in relation to a fire, or emergency of another kind, as is specified in the direction.
(2)An emergency direction may require an authority to act outwith its area.
(3)An emergency direction may be varied or revoked by a further such direction.
(1)A relevant authority may take any action it considers appropriate—
(a)in response to an event or situation that causes or is likely to cause—
(i)a person to die, be injured or become ill; or
(ii)harm to the environment (including the life and health of plants and animals and the fabric of buildings); or
(b)for the purpose of enabling it to take action in response to such an event or situation.
(2)The power conferred by subsection (1)—
(a)includes power to secure the provision of equipment; and
(b)may be exercised by an authority within or outwith its area.
(1)A relevant authority may provide—
(a)the services of any persons employed by it; or
(b)any equipment maintained by it,
to any person for any purpose that appears to the authority to be appropriate.
(2)An authority may provide services or equipment under this section within or outwith its area.
A relevant authority may establish and maintain one or more centres for providing education and training in matters in relation to which relevant authorities have functions.
(1)The Scottish Ministers may by order (a “charging order”) authorise a relevant authority to charge a person of a description specified in the order for any action so specified taken by the authority.
(2)A charging order may authorise a charge to be imposed on, or recovered from, a person other than the person in respect of whom action is taken by the authority.
(3)A charging order may authorise charging for—
(a)extinguishing fires;
(b)protecting life; or
(c)protecting property in the event of fires,
only in respect of action taken by the authority at sea (or, if the authority’s area extends to the low water mark, action taken at sea outwith its area).
(4)Where a relevant authority authorised by a charging order to charge for taking action of a particular description decides to do so—
(a)the amount of the charge shall be set by the authority;
(b)different amounts may be charged in different circumstances (and the authority may charge nothing).
(5)In setting the amount of a charge, a relevant authority shall secure that, taking one financial year with another, the authority’s income from charges does not exceed the cost to the authority of taking the action for which the charges are imposed.
(6)In subsection (5) “financial year” means the period of 12 months ending on 31 March.