This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Relocation bringing benefits to all parts of Scotland
28/06/2005
Since 1999, decisions have been taken on 2,400 civil
service jobs moving from Edinburgh to all parts of
Scotland.
Deputy Finance and Public Service Reform Minister Tavish
Scott gave a six-monthly update to the Finance Committee
today.
He told the Committee that over 2,000 of these jobs had
already moved with another 400 due to move.
These decisions mean that, to date, more than 55 per
cent of posts in the Executive and its agencies are located
outside Edinburgh. There are a further 2,000 posts
currently under review, with decisions on many due
soon.
Mr Scott announced to the Committee, that as well as the
jobs already decided upon, a number of agencies had been
added to the current programme of location reviews. These
include the headquarters of the Scottish Court Service and
the Office of the Legal Services Ombudsman.
A further two candidates have also been identified as
part of the Small Unit Relocation Initiative - a further
Crown Office transcription unit (two have already been
established in Dingwall and Tain) and the new Convenor of
the Water Customer Consultation Panels.
Announcing the reviews, Tavish Scott said:
"In recent weeks I have seen for myself how the Small
Unit Relocation Initiative can make a difference in remote
and rural areas across Scotland. The excellent quality of
staff available for recruitment locally to the Executive's
Central Enquiry Unit in Kinlochleven and the NHS Central
Register in Dumfries has been very impressive.
"The relocation of posts to the island of Tiree has also
led, not only to local employment opportunities, but with
people with ties to the island returning to take some of
these jobs. This has been an important development for the
island."
He was keen to impress upon the Committee that the
Executive remains committed to its relocation policy
despite concerns voiced in recent weeks. He said:
"The Executive remains committed to its relocation
policy. There is already a range of practical,
administrative measures available to Ministers and
Departments to influence public bodies in terms of how they
exercise their functions.
"Creating bodies at arms length is usually a signal that
Ministers should not be interfering in decision-making or
operational matters. However, where services are being
delivered through a public body, and particularly where it
is being financed by the taxpayer, Ministers have a
responsibility, and even a duty, to ensure efficiency and
effectiveness. I believe that responsibility includes
deciding on location which can be a driver for efficiency
within the body as well as bringing benefits to communities
across Scotland.
"To avoid any doubt about the relationship between the
responsibilities of Ministers and the responsibilities of
public bodies, Ministers are exploring legislative routes
to take a clear legal power on location. This policy will
not be stalled or unravelled over any misunderstanding
about exactly what Ministers can and cannot do, according
to interpretation of legislation."
The Executive had created its own relocation website
which is now up and running. The website provides contact
details, guidance on the policy and the review process as
well as a tracker showing the outcome of previous reviews,
reviews in progress and the host of location opportunities
across Scotland.