Reform Scotland

6 March 2008

PA News Wire

A new think-tank to push for "new directions" in public policy in Scotland will be formally launched on April 15, it was announced today.

Reform Scotland described itself as independent and non-party, with the goal of delivering economic prosperity and better services.

Its ideas would be based on the "traditional Scottish principles" of limited government, diversity and personal responsibility, it said at a pre-launch event in Edinburgh.

The group aims to carry out research, publish reports, and issue briefing notes on public policy issues.

A report on economic growth is planned for later this month, followed by a report on public services.

The group has an advisory board chaired by Ben Thomson, chairman of the Noble Group investment bank, and has several business figures on its advisory board.

Its director is Geoff Mawdsley, a former advisory to the then Scottish Tory leader David McLetchie.

"The election of an SNP minority government in Scotland provides the opportunity for reform and all parties are now open to new ideas," it said.

"There is also an ongoing debate about how Scotland is governed with further change almost inevitable, whether it is more devolved powers, fiscal autonomy or independence."

But most its work will focus on the economy and public services.

It hopes to carry out research, and actively promote policy ideas as a non-party body along similar lines to think-tanks in the United States.

It also plans to be even-handed towards political parties, praising or admonishing "as we see fit", said Mr Mawdsley.

But it had no immediate plans to take part in the constitutional debate which Labour has promised.

Mr Mawdsley said: "We may do, but our perspective will be - if you are going to have those powers, what are you going to do with them?"’