The Scottish public is generally disappointed with the results of devolution, but simple steps could restore dynamism and public faith in the project, according to a new report released by the Policy Institute.

In the report "Saving Devolution", Glasgow University's Dr Craig Smith sets out a series of seven recommendations which he says are vital to ensure the momentum of devolution.

Key among Smith's recommendations is a reduction in the number of Ministers, junior Ministers, shadow Ministers, committee conveners and other positions, in order to reduce what he calls the levels of "patronage" in the Holyrood system. He also calls for a more powerful Finance Minister and Parliamentary Ombudsman, while also recommending the creation of a completely independent "Economics Scotland" body, which would embrace the existing roles of the chief economist and chief statistician in order to conduct “robust� economic analysis of Executive policies.

Smith said:
"Scotland should adopt a pioneering policy of practicing simple governance with transparency and a 'light-touch' as its core concerns. The proposals in this paper are intended to assist in achieving this goal by encouraging greater accountability and scrutiny within the current devolved settlement. Taking these suggestions on board will require a degree of self-restraint, and more than a little humility, on the part of the practitioners of politics in Scotland. But the end is the noble one of improving the governance of the country."�

A full copy of the report can be found at http://www.policyinstitute.info/ResPub.php

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