Jobs-relocation strategy under Executive review

Published on Saturday 28 July 2007 00:18

A CONTROVERSIAL policy which has seen public-sector jobs moved out of Edinburgh is under review, the Executive said yesterday, as it announced the location of a major new watchdog in the capital.

Relocation of civil service jobs around Scotland has been criticised by auditors, who said the policy was not necessarily good value for money.

Audit Scotland said the policy had not achieved its purpose of dispersing employment across the country, and criticised the decision to move Scottish Natural Heritage to Inverness.

Yesterday, the Executive said it would look at changing the policy in line with the report.

A spokeswoman said: "We are currently considering the future direction of the policy on public-sector jobs location."

However, sources said the "principle" of moving jobs out of Edinburgh would not be abandoned, but the method would be improved to achieve better value for money.

Meanwhile, Kenny MacAskill, the justice secretary, announced that the new Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) will be based in Edinburgh.

The independent body, with up to 60 staff, aims at ensuring complaints against the profession are resolved quickly and effectively.