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12 May 2003
SNH the victim of political correctness
(Filed 12 May 2003)
www.land-care.org.uk
In a Scotsman editorial on 9th May (www.thescotsman.co.uk/opinion.cfm?id=529482003)
it states:
"SNH has itself become a victim of political correctness.
The Scottish Executive wants to move the HQ of the agency from
Edinburgh, as part of a programme of decentralising government.
This is a laudable aim, provided it is not to the detriment of
efficiency. Alas, that is just what seems to be the case.
"First the consultants examining the prospective move suggested
that relocating to Perth was cost effective and dismissed Inverness
as the most expensive option. So the Executive chose Inverness
(there was an election in the offing, and Inverness was a marginal
area).
"Next, the 270 SNH staff in Edinburgh rebelled at having
to uproot or loose their jobs - hardly a boon to the success of
the project or SNH.
"Worried, Jack McConnell (Scotland’s First Minister)
said no-one would be forced to move - or loose their job. But
that means finding and training new staff in Inverness, while
paying the Edinburgh people to do something else.
Perhaps the best solution might be to
1. let SNH get on with its job in Edinburgh and
2. grow some new jobs in a rejuvenated Highland economy.”
Land-Care’s solution would be
- cut the number of people employed by this
vast and inefficient quango by half.
- greatly reduce the number of premises that
it occupies and maintains.
- scrutinise the SNH budget to see where the
taxpayers are getting value for money, and the many areas where
it is perceived that they are not.
- curtail its political ambitions for more and
more power over how Scotland’s land and seas are managed.
- encourage SNH to employ persons who have significant
understanding and training in how the countryside is actually
managed.
www.land-care.org.uk
Further Reading recommended by Land-Care
Fresh Air (2002). SNH's New Hielan' Hame.
(Reproduced with permission on Land-Care,
click
here to view).
SNH seen as Barrier to Rural Development.
(Filed 12 May 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
Is SNH a Good Land Manager? Duich Moss, Islay.
(Filed 9 May 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click here to
view).
Irvine, James (2003). SNH hedgehog saga. Update 30th April 2003.
(Filed 30 April 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
Irvine, James (2003). Conservation and the misuse of science. Hedgehogs,
Bats and Badgers.
(Filed 15 April 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
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