McConnell: Efficiency drive

Scotland will implement the drive for civil service efficiency more rigorously than the rest of the UK, Jack McConnell has said.

Interviewed in the FT on Thursday, the first minister said he wanted Scotland to become the benchmark for efficiency in government.

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

McConnell said 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 2.5 per cent identified by Sir Peter Gershon. 

"I want us to go not just as far as Gershon, but I think in Scotland we can go further," he said.

"I want us to be ahead of the rest of the UK in public sector e-procurement and e-government."

Whilst he would not be drawn on the possibility of job cuts, he said he wanted to see more staff at the frontline.

"Behind that [there is] the army of personnel teams, financial teams, admin teams, estate management teams across local government, national government, public agencies and to some extent the voluntary sector," said McConnell.

"I think there is a case for a rationalisation of these that will improve the use of taxpayers' money."

The first minister went on to say that this week's move to the new Holyrood parliament is a turning point for devolved government in Scotland.