To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to alter the operational boundaries of Dumfries and Galloway police force or Dumfries and Galloway fire brigade. (S1O-89)

There are no specific plans at present affecting Dumfries and Galloway but a review of the structure of police and fire services in Scotland is under way.

Does the minister accept that public confidence is an important element in the provision of police and fire services and that the creation of larger and more remote brigades and forces would undermine that confidence while providing little or no service benefit to people in areas such as Dumfries and Galloway?

I fully accept that retention of public confidence in police and fire services is critical. That is precisely why, after announcing a review, the steering group will now be composed of representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the police service and the fire service. We have repeatedly made it clear that any change to the structure of services would have to leave in place services that are both locally based and locally accountable.