“Something is seriously wrong with … government in Scotland."
These recommendations are aimed at the Scottish Government, but unless the Scottish Parliament does its job well, and in particular scrutinises the performance and behaviour of government in a way which has impact and effect, their value will erode over time. That the Parliament also has problems is something else which ‘everybody knows’. The finance and audit committees have shown on occasion real independence and insight, but even their most trenchant observations are simply ignored, as Parliament as a whole will not enforce them. Various suggestions have been made for addressing them. Shifting the balance of numbers between ministers and backbench MSPs might help shift the balance of power inside Holyrood, but other changes, such as the election of committee chairs, may well have a role to play as well. In the long run, however, the effectiveness of government depends to a substantial degree on the integrity and competence of those elected to the Scottish Parliament. Who they are is for the voters to decide