SIU has regularly run a column encouraging members with specific expertise to contribute comments to the policy pool system. Now the system is changing although the need for expert input remains. Indeed is even more necessary.

Moving away from the poorly attended policy pool system, the Scottish committee has agreed that reports on policy issues current will be reported to them direct - preceding their normal meeting.

These reports are normally drawn up by officers with the assistance and approval of ad-hoc groups of activists and members with specialist knowledge.

The information will be circulated by an email bulletin, the aim of which is to keep activists and staff advised of the policy issues that face UNISON Scotland and its members.

Each edition will feature a key issue as well as communicating UNISON's parliamentary and campaign activity. We want to encourage a greater involvement of activists in policy and campaigns.

So the policy bulletin will seek views and contributions on the policy development activities of UNISON Scotland. One of UNISON's greatest strengths is the expertise of our varied membership.

We want to tap into that depth of knowledge and encourage greater involvement. Five principles for reform The first issue requests contributions on the five principles underpinning UNISON's position on public service reform.

This will continue to be a key issue in the run up to the 2007 elections and beyond. Scotland has followed a different path to England on public service reform.

For reasons of scale, geography and culture Scotland's public services have adopted a partnership rather than the English competitive, market led approach to the delivery of public services.

However, there are those who argue that we should adopt those reforms - that Scotland's public services are not performing as well as in England. For this reason in 2003 we adopted the Revitalise Our Public Services principles (see web site).

The aim was to set out a positive agenda for Scottish public service improvement - not just defend the status quo. In this context we want to refresh the principles to address new priorities, changed circumstances and the current challenges facing Scotland's public services. The Scottish Committee at its last meeting received a presentation on progress with this work.

For a copy of that presentation contact: Kay Sillars k.sillars@unison.co.uk. To get involved in policy, contact Dave Watson in the P&I Team d.watson@unison.co.uk.

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