Scotland

Unhealthy consequences

8 December 2011 | Margaret Cuthbert and Jim Cuthbert

The Health and Social Care Bill officially only covers England, but its removal of the private income cap will impact on both Scotland and Wales through the Barnett Formula Read more

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Scottish police and fire service reform: some tough questions

7 November 2011 | Don Peebles

The Scottish Government’s ambitious plans to create single, national police and fire services for Scotland are not without risk and important questions need to be answered

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Referendum race starts now

4 November 2011 | Iain Macwhirter

Politics is strangely quiet in Scotland now, but the promised referendum on independence is set to stir the parties up Read more

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University cash challenge

5 October 2011 | Iain Macwhirter

Scotland’s top universities are taking a massive gamble by charging their English students £36,000 for a standard degree Read more

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Outcomes are in, inputs are out

20 September 2011 | Don Peebles

Politicians need to grasp the nettle and introduce an outcomes-based approach to enable longer-term financial planning for local government in Scotland Read more...

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Cracking the code

19 August 2011 | Sarah Sheen

It may be the summer, but public sector accountants still have work to do in updating the code of practice governing local government accounting Read more

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Christie Commission: catalyst for change?

30 June 2011 | Paul Brewer

Campbell Christie has provided a road map for reform in the public sector in Scotland. The details are lacking, but let’s hope his analysis is the start of a long-term transformation Read more

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A law unto themselves

28 June 2011 | Iain Macwhirter

Rulings by the new UK Supreme Court have not only infuriated First Minister Alex Salmond but have turned the law into a political battleground Read more...

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Flawed fiscal thinking in Wales

23 June 2011 | Alan Trench

There are some curious elements to the proposed financial settlement for Wales. The first minister seems to see tax devolution as a way of securing economic levers rather than sources of revenue to fund public services Read more...

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Salmond’s leap into the unknown

24 May 2011 | Iain Macwhirter

The SNP’s landslide victory in the Scottish parliamentary elections will have ramifications that go far beyond Scotland’s borders Read more...

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