The General Register Office for Scotland, National Archives of Scotland and Registers of Scotland have been asked to look at the possibility of merging, the Scottish Government has announced.
Enterprise Minister Jim Mather said that a merger would save money while also delivering the same level of services to the public at a time when the Government was eager to look at maximising the values of public spending.
“We are asking the General Register Office for Scotland, National Archives of Scotland and Registers of Scotland to work together to explore ways of working more closely together, and the potential of amalgamation,” Mather said, adding that the Government’s public bodies simplification programme had reduced the number of bodies from 199 to 154. By 2011 the figure is expected to be 120, which will deliver an estimated £125m of savings by 2013 and recurring savings of around £39m in following years.
Mather paid tribute to the work of the organisations, stating that all three currently delivered important services effectively. However, he added: “Conducting an evaluation of the best way of delivering their functions in future is the right and proper action for the times.”
