Everybody and Their Uncle
Everybody and their uncle now appears to believe that substantial savings can be found - by tackling some of the more glaring inefficiencies in the way that Scotland's some of public services are delivered.
The latest example being trumpeted is in relation to Scotland's current eight police forces - which are reportedly to become a single, unified national police force.
More complex maybe - but consider the fact that a unified Metrpolitan Police Force in London covers 32 London boroughs - and serves over 11 million citizens of the UK's capital city - plus oodles of tourists and visitors.
So the argument goers that a leaner Scotland wide police force would free up all the time, energy and resources that are wasted - by having parallel management and other structures in place - in eight different parts of Scotland.
Another example - a favourite of mine - is the lovely county of Ayrshire - birthplace of Rabbie Burns and home to no less that 3 Scottish councils: North, South and East Ayrshire.
Take one part of these 3 councils - let's say education - so we have 3 directors of education (all on handsome salaries and big pensions) plus all their deputies, assistants and other staff.
When - in fact - all that's needed is just one - even then all three councils combined would be barely half the size of Glasgow.
So why has it taken all these years for politicians - both local and national - to wake up to the fact that all this unnecessary bureaucracy - has been wasting money for years?
The latest example being trumpeted is in relation to Scotland's current eight police forces - which are reportedly to become a single, unified national police force.
More complex maybe - but consider the fact that a unified Metrpolitan Police Force in London covers 32 London boroughs - and serves over 11 million citizens of the UK's capital city - plus oodles of tourists and visitors.
So the argument goers that a leaner Scotland wide police force would free up all the time, energy and resources that are wasted - by having parallel management and other structures in place - in eight different parts of Scotland.
Another example - a favourite of mine - is the lovely county of Ayrshire - birthplace of Rabbie Burns and home to no less that 3 Scottish councils: North, South and East Ayrshire.
Take one part of these 3 councils - let's say education - so we have 3 directors of education (all on handsome salaries and big pensions) plus all their deputies, assistants and other staff.
When - in fact - all that's needed is just one - even then all three councils combined would be barely half the size of Glasgow.
So why has it taken all these years for politicians - both local and national - to wake up to the fact that all this unnecessary bureaucracy - has been wasting money for years?
