What plans it has to introduce a legal requirement for fire safety measures in common areas and stairwells of blocks of flats.

Legislation already exists with regard to fire safety in common areas.
Regulation 23, as applied by Regulation 24, of the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 states that duty-holders have an obligation to maintain the common areas and the facilities in the common areas for use by (or protection of) firefighters. This duty is enforced by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).
In addition to this, occupiers require to keep common areas clear of combustibles and obstructions. This is covered under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, section 93.
Work is ongoing under the auspices of the ‘Building and Fire Safety: Ministerial Working Group’, to ensure that there is a clear process in place regarding the storage, removal and enforcement of combustible materials in common areas, as it relates to the above noted legislation.