THE Scottish government should fund upgrades to more than 300 tower blocks without sprinkler systems, Scottish Labour deputy leader Alex Rowley said yesterday.

Blocks built after 2005 are legally required to have sprinkler systems fitted, but 319 older buildings have not been retroactively fitted.

He said: “SNP Communities Secretary Angela Constance should be meeting with local authorities as a matter of urgency over this.

“Labour believes the government has a responsibility to work with councils to put in place a programme that will ensure the highest safety standards in all high-rise flats, which would include sprinkler systems.”

Mr Rowley said it would not be acceptable to simply leave programmes to improve safety to “cash-strapped councils.”

He said: “Given the level of cuts to local authorities in recent years, the SNP government must accept that it also has a responsibility not just to agree any improvements to safety in high-rise flats, but also to fund such programmes.”

The recent devastating fire at Grenfell Tower in London killed more than 80 people. Experts say sprinklers would probably have saved them.