SNP conference attendees question Scotland's public sector reform plans

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 06:38 · Archive

Scottish Government officials faced criticism at SNP conference over public sector reform proposals affecting councils, health boards and social care.

The Scottish Government's public sector reform proposals, announced in last month's Programme for Government, have generated significant concern at SNP conference. Cabinet Secretary for Public Sector Reform Ivan McKee faced criticism across six fringe events, with councillors, third sector organisations and SNP members complaining about inadequate consultation on the changes.

The reforms would overhaul Scotland's public services structure. The 32-council system would be replaced with between 6 and 10 regional authorities and between 120 and 160 community authorities. Health services would be administered by two strategic health boards, down from 14 territorial-based boards. Unions have predicted the changes could result in as many as 20,000 job losses and the removal of management layers across the country.

Attendees at conference expressed frustration not only with the proposals themselves but with how the Scottish Government is approaching them. The Government has launched a three-month engagement process, but representatives from across the public sector said those affected had not been given sufficient opportunity to shape the reforms. An SNP councillor told McKee he was ignoring the people his reforms are supposed to help. McKee acknowledged the difficulty of the task, saying 'I'm not going to get everyone happy', and noted that different parts of the reform would require different mechanisms, including both primary and secondary legislation in Parliament.

How it is being reported

• ‘I’m not going to get everyone happy’ Ivan McKee on public sector reformIvan McKee has, probably, the most difficult task of all John Swinney’s Government ministers.Glasgow Times · 23 Oct, 06:00
• If the SNP can't be convinced on public sector reform, we've got a problemIvan McKee faced backlash from within his own party, making the Scottish Government's public sector reform plans even tougher.The Herald · 22 Oct, 15:39

In this story: Ivan McKee · Scottish Government · SNP · Scotland

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