Private concerns

Following the award of the Glasgow asylum seekers’ contract by the UK Borders Agency to the private sector company, Serco, it is now being reported that the same company has been awarded the Northern Isles ferry contract by the Scottish Government “Ferry switch for greed and profit” (5 May).

Serco runs so many of our public services it is impossible for me to list them all but they range from the running of RAF bases to support and maintenance services at the Clyde Naval Base.

It operates Scatsta Airport on Shetland, provides facilities management services in Wishaw General and Royal Larbert Hospitals, runs prisons and immigration removal centres, not to mention the operation of speed camera systems.

It controls the National Nuclear Laboratory and manages the National Physical Laboratory and the Atomics Weapons Establishment.

That is a fraction of its operations both home and overseas. Frankly I find it sinister that one private sector company has such power in this land.

How much more evidence do we need that we are becoming steadily less of a democracy and more of a corporatocracy with increasing co-operation between the corporate and political élites north and south of the Border?

Is there any reason to assume it would be any different in an independent Scotland or indeed might it be even more vulnerable should the SNP gain early power?

John Milne

Ardgowan Drive Uddingston