This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Head of Performance and Innovation Unit
08/01/2004
Nick Parker, a former senior partner with Price
Waterhouse Coopers, is to head the Executive's Performance
and Innovation Unit.
He will play a key role in the drive to modernise
government in Scotland and improve the delivery of services
across the public sector. His appointment fulfils the
First Minister Jack McConnell's pledge that a senior
business figure should head the unit.
The First Minister said:
"People in Scotland need and deserve the very best
public services. Services that are designed and delivered
to meet the needs of the people that use them. That is why
the Executive is placing such a high priority to
modernising the organisation - to ensure it is focused on
delivery.
"I am keen that the public sector gets the benefit of
business expertise and the appointment of Mr Parker will
strengthen existing arrangements considerably. He will
play an important role in ensuring efficiency across the
public sector.
"I also expect him to help us ensure that public
services deliver value to the taxpayer for the
substantially increased sums of money that we are investing
in public services.
"There is no doubt it is a significant step forward in
ensuring the improved delivery of policies."
Mr Parker said:
"I am pleased to take up this opportunity to build on my
private sector experience and experience of working with
the Scottish Executive on PPP issues. I have no
preconceptions and relish the challenge, particularly since
I will be beginning work at the start of the 2004 Spending
Review."
Mr Parker, 56, retired as a senior partner of
PricewaterhouseCoopers in April 2002. He had led his firm's
Corporate Finance Privatisation Advisory work in Europe
since the formation of PwC.
He has substantial experience in dealing with government
Ministers and senior corporate executives in policy and
strategy development and implementation.
The PIU will identify opportunities to improve services
and secure efficiencies across the public sector and advise
on how these should be addressed. Working within the
Office of the Permanent Secretary, Mr Parker will pull
together small, short-life teams with the appropriate
skills and experience from public and private sectors to
examine and report on key issues, agreed by the First
Minister and Deputy First Minister.
Initial focus will be on public sector improvement and
on regeneration.
This is a civil service appointment within the
established framework for the appointment of expert
advisers as temporary civil servants. Mr Parker will work
for one and a half days per week for a year subject to
review in the light of experience. His salary will be
comparable to that of senior public body chairpersons in
Scotland.