Election talk 'no help to our services'

THE fate of Scotland's public services is threatened by electioneering concerned with "short-term political expediency", an umbrella group for councils has claimed.

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) expressed alarm at the tenor of debate over the restructuring of public services, which includes proposals for a single police force or unified fire and rescue service, it was reported today.

Cosla president Pat Watters said: "If you want to reform you need to look at the whole public service, and what's troubling is that no matter what the political party we're hearing things about a single police, fire or care services without the slightest shred of evidence it will improve the situation.

"What is concerning is that the parties are discussing how to change democratic services we are accountable for. This is all about elections and nothing about services."