The Scottish Executive will not be following the example of Westminster by seeking to take over direct control of the fire service in the coming months.

In an emergency statement to the Scottish Parliament, Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace effectively ruled out such a move in Scotland.

Mr Wallace said there was limited time left to pursue such a measure before the Holyrood elections in May.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has announced that legislation will be brought forward to allow him to set pay and conditions in the fire service.

Mr Wallace said he did not envisage following Mr Prescott's example and changing the law to force a settlement north of the border.

Jim Wallace made an emergency statement

But Mr Wallace condemned the firefighters for putting public safety at risk and urged them to return to negotiations.

Firefighters will end their latest 48-hour strike at 0900 GMT on Thursday, before walking out again for 48 hours this weekend.

Mr Wallace told MSPs that Mr Prescott had said he would seek "powers of direction" of a kind which the government had once had with fire authorities.

He said: "Both the first minister and I have spoken to ministerial colleagues in England about this.

"What we sought and what we got was an agreement that this is a matter on which there will be consultation with Scottish ministers.

"These are consultations that we will engage in actively."

'Bully-boy tactics'

Mr Wallace went on: "No responsible government can ever rule out the possibility that circumstances may be such that we would find it necessary to seek urgent legislative change.

"However, having regard to these considerations, I do not envisage that in the remaining weeks of this parliament, we would be in a position to come forward with firm legislative proposals for Scotland."

Scottish National Party leader John Swinney said the Executive was in "chaos" over the matter.

This brings the whole concept of partnership between this parliament and the UK parliament into serious disrepute David McLetchie

He said: "The Deputy First Minister accuses the FBU of blaming everyone and taking no responsibility themselves - this government stands accused of exactly the same charge. This statement is a fudge.

"If he is unable to tell Parliament specific answers to these questions the only conclusion can be that this Executive is prepared to cave in to the bully-boy tactics of John Prescott."

Tory leader David McLetchie said it was clear that the Executive had been "kept in the dark" by John Prescott about his plans.

"This brings the whole concept of partnership between this parliament and the UK parliament into serious disrepute," he said.

And left-wing Labour backbencher John McAllion said free trade unions were essential in a democratic society and hit out at John Prescott's proposals.

He said: "Whatever else you may call it, it ain't democratic and it ain't something that Labour-led Executives should even be contemplating."

Legal advice

And Tommy Sheridan of the Scottish Socialist Party was applauded by firefighters in the public gallery when he called on the executive to "stand up and tell Mr Prescott loud and clear that his Mussolini-type tactics are not welcome here in Scotland".

But Mr Sheridan was rebuked by Jim Wallace, who called his comments "deplorable".

Meanwhile Sir David Steel, the presiding officer of the parliament, said that Mr Prescott had thrown "a spanner in the works" of devolution by announcing plans to set pay and conditions for firemen.

Mr Wallace said the Executive would take advice from Scotland's most senior law officer, Lord Advocate Colin Boyd.