Scottish Government mini-Reshuffle

Unexpectedly, but not unsurprisingly, Alex Salmond moved Fiona Hyslop from Education to Culture and External Affairs today. She will take over the remit of Mike Russell but without the constitutional element and Mike Russell has moved to Education.

Mr Salmond will take personal responsibility for constitutional matters.

Fiona Hyslop has had a difficult time in the post of Education Secretary especially recently when some councils refused to reduce class sizes and employ more teachers. This was part of the 'concordat' the SNP agreed with COSLA and the SNP government insist councils were given the money to take the appropriate action. We have yet to be told by councils where the money was spent if not on education.

Alex Salmond said :

Schools policy has reached a difficult period with our disagreement with many local authorities about their failure to reduce class sizes by sustaining teacher numbers, while we have achieved a new record low in primary school class sizes.

“It is appropriate that a fresh look is taken at this and other schooling issues to break the impasse for the benefit of parents, teachers and children. I believe that Michael Russell can bring new thinking to this tough task.

A smart move at the right time. The problem with councils unable to adhere to agreements needs fresh thinking. This mini-shuffle has probably been on the cards for some time. After all, yesterday Mike Russell fulfilled his remit to deliver the Bill on Scotland's constitutional future.

Source

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Oh UK, Gies a Room

Mike Russell, the SNP constitution minister, yesterday published a document entitled 'Europe and Foreign Affairs' to a Brussels audience.

The document, part of the government's National Conversation' on Scotland's future, says that under current arrangements Scottish government officials working on Scottish affairs work alongside UK representatives overseas, reflecting the fact that in many policy areas Scottish and UK interests coincide.

However it adds: 'Independence would not change that and there is no reason why close co-operation on policy and representation, up to and including shared services, should not continue where Scotland and the UK (rest of the UK) agree that was of mutual interest.'

By contrast the document also envisages an independent Scotland 'opening new embassies, consulates or trade offices' and adds that 'a Scottish Foreign Service and embassy network could and should look very different from the FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) model.'

A Scottish government spokesman said an independent Scotland would seek to co-operate with the UK in a discussion about shared assets such as diplomatic and consular services.

Labour, both in Scotland and Whitehall, issued their usual affable comments:

Anne McGuire, the Labour MP for Stirling, added: “It reads like somebody has written it for a school project, not a serious government document. They cannot assert that Scotland needs something different, but in the same breath decide to piggy-back on our existing experience and structures.”

There was little encouragement for the SNP from Whitehall, with a source branding the idea of shared diplomatic services “utterly ridiculous. No-one who has had an acrimonious divorce would ever rent a room in their house to the person who left.”

Go on Britain, give Scotland a room. After all we pay £658 million annually as our share of UK overseas representation and there are already several examples of countries co-locating embassies in one building to reduce overhead costs.

A dual citizenship plan was also contained in the paper. 'Given Scotland's close ties to the other parts of the British Isles, a positive approach to dual citizenship would be essential.'

Source: Times

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Mike Russell Blogs on Scotland Week

I'm a bit late with this information as he's been in the US two days already, but Mike Russell has started his own blog about his week in America as the Scottish government's representative at Scotland Week.  Of course he's a good writer and has a light touch with this subject.

It would be good to see more Scottish Nationalist MSPs and MPs enter the world of blogging. Many have websites which are seldom regularly updated and are therefore of little interest to anyone and it's my hope that Mike has started a trend.  Please give him a little encouragement in his comments section.

Note:  My apologies, the initial title said Tartan Week instead of Scotland Week.

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