Whilst commending the Scottish Government approach to consultation which is likely to ensure that the widest range of options are considered, and re-iterating Prospects support for the principle of "best value for the public purse", the Union, which represents senior officers in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said that "it is not for central Government to interfere with freedoms and flexibiloities that local authorities must retain, to deal with individual and specific circumstances".

The union concluded that "exit payments and pay more generally, are a matter for locally accountable politicians to determine"