This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Public jobs relocation review
11/12/2002
The possibility of more public sector jobs being relocated outwith Edinburgh is to be the subject of review, MSPs were told today.
Deputy Finance and Public Services Minister Peter Peacock said the aim was to benefit the whole of Scotland from the relocation of public sector posts where it is cost-efficient and does not affect the quality of service.
Around 650 posts have been or will be located outside Edinburgh following earlier reviews, benefiting areas from Aberdeen to Galashiels.
Responding to a Parliamentary Question from Dr Richard Simpson, Mr Peacock said that the following bodies will now be reviewing their locations:
- NHS Education in Scotland; decision by early 2003
- Inquiry Reporters Unit; decision by mid 2003
- Accountant in Bankruptcy; decision by end 2003
- VisitScotland; decision by end 2003
- Mental Welfare Commission; decision by early 2005
In addition, consideration is being given to setting up the following new bodies:
- Scottish Building Standards Agency; decision by early 2003
- NHS Quality Improvement, decision by early 2003
- Mental Health Tribunal Service, decision by mid 2003
- Forest Enterprise Scotland; decision by end 2003
The setting up of both the Mental Health Tribunal Service and the Scottish Standard Building Agency will be subject to Parliamentary approval.
Mr Peacock said:
"In line with the Executive's policy of decentralisation we have been examining the possibilities of moving public service jobs away from the capital.
"Around 650 posts have been located or are planned to be located outside Edinburgh as a direct result of our actions over the last three years, benefiting areas from Aberdeen to Galashiels.
"Today's decision to increase the number of organisations under review is further evidence of our desire to benefit the whole of Scotland from the relocation of public sector posts where it is cost-efficient to do so and does not affect the quality of service.
"Bringing the Executive closer to the people remains one of our core ambitions and dispersing public sector jobs is one way to achieve this.
"The Executive also recognises that particularly in remote areas, even small numbers of additional jobs can make a significant difference to social and economic conditions.
"The Executive will, therefore, commission an additional series of relocation reviews covering all organisations covered by the policy requiring them to identify small units of work which are location independent and might be successfully carried out at remote locations."
The Executive's policy on relocation, announced by the then First Minister in September 1999, is that where a new unit or Agency is established, or where an existing unit is merged or otherwise reorganised, there should be a presumption in favour of locating outside Edinburgh.
In addition, for existing bodies, where a significant property breakpoint is reached, for example the termination of a lease, relocation options outside Edinburgh will be considered.
On October 25 an extension to this policy was announced amd set out in more detail on October 28.
All bodies covered by the relocation policy will be required to identify at least two small areas of work to establish whether the functions could be carried out effectively in more remote areas.