THE Scottish government knew its request for UK military support in fighting the Cairngorms wildfire could not be met, the Justice Secretary has admitted.

In a statement at Holyrood, Neil Gray admitted ministers went ahead with a call for aerial assistance to help the 500 firefighters already battling the 3,300 hectare blaze despite being “informally” aware that the military “did not have such assets in the UK.”

Arguing the futile request was submitted in a bid to explore “every option,” he offered assurance to MSPs that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) would now “be in a position to put helicopter resources on standby as soon as the wildfire danger assessment process indicates a need to do so” and would able to “immediately mobilise these assets directly in support of firefighting operations.”

“We are also commencing work immediately to improve aerial support availability, including options for four-nations collaboration and military support,” he said.

“There were times during the wildfire when additional aerial water bombing would have been helpful to supplement the resources already being provided by commercial operators under contract.

“This is why we requested military assistance for this specific purpose at the request of the SFRS.

“Although we had been aware informally that the UK military did not have such assets in the UK, the position we were in was one of exploring every option to put the required support in place.

“I believed then, and I believe now, that it was right to put that request to the UK government formally to allow them to explore every option for what was possible, including repatriating any assets based overseas.”

Welcoming the Westminster government’s temporary ban on single-use barbecues after the spate of wildfires which ripped through Britain after a series of heatwaves over the summer, Mr Gray said: “This is something I believe needs to be considered on a more permanent basis when there is a risk of wildfires.”

Responding to Mr Gray’s remarks, a UK Government spokesperson said: “When the request for assistance was received, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Defence Secretary worked at speed to identify options for assistance, including deploying Chinook helicopters, enhanced liaison support and support from UK stand-by battalions.

“The Scottish government was made aware of the assistance available and decided not to accept.”