Scotland's first minster has told the FT he wants the country to become the benchmark for efficiency in government.

Following the Gershon review Jack McConnell said he wanted to go further, putting Scotland "ahead of the rest of the UK".

He says the extension of best practice will enable the executive to make cost savings of at least two per cent a year - over and above the two-and-a-half per cent identified by Sir Peter Gershon. 

The first minister also says the move to the new Holyrood parliament is a turning point for devolved government in Scotland.