Commenting on the publication of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Alison McInnes said:
Alison McInnes MSP"The Scottish Government is determined to press ahead with their ill-advised plans for Scotland's Police and Fire services.
"This Bill represents a huge power grab by Kenny MacAskill, and puts our excellent local, responsive policing and our small rural fire stations at risk.
"Consultation on these plans saw councils, firefighters and police officers all expressing serious concerns over the move to single, national police and fire services. Yet the SNP Government continue to show a complete indifference to local opinion.
"The Cabinet Secretary must now pay heed to those concerns, and he must guarantee that this Bill will not result in any cuts to frontline or back office staff."