Careers service should be returned to democratic control

UNISON has called for Scotland's careers service to be returned to democratic control.

Ministers want to move Careers Scotland out of Scottish Enterprise by April 2007 and a Scottish Executive consultation on the plan closed last month.

UNISON Scotland's response supported option four in the consultation which would see Careers Scotland run by local authorities on a regional basis. The move was given decisive backing by Careers Scotland staff in a union survey. Up to 90% of staff are UNISON members.

Dave Watson, Scottish Organiser (Policy), explained that UNISON is strongly opposed to other options in the consultation. These included merger with or setting up another quango.

"We believe that the Scottish Executive should move quickly now to arrange for councils to set up four regional boards, based on the existing regional areas operated by Careers Scotland," he said.

"The careers service is a good fit with the range of responsibilities which local authorities have and ministers have rightly identified the importance of joined up service delivery. To create another centralised unaccountable quango would be sheer folly."

James Corry, Scottish Enterprise Branch Secretary, said: "Our members overwhelmingly backed this option against any of the quango options.

"Scottish Enterprise has not been a supportive home for Careers Scotland and our members would welcome moving to local democratic control working with colleagues delivering similar services.

"We are also urging the Scottish Executive to return the vacancy handling service to Careers Scotland as it plays a key role in our remit of reducing the number of young people not in employment or training."

Dave Watson added, "There was supposed to have been a bonfire of the quangos, yet quangos now take a considerably greater share of the public sector budget than councils. Careers Scotland is a prime example of a public service which can be incorporated into existing democratic structures."

UNISON Scotland's full consultation response is available at www.unison-scotland.org.uk/response/careersdemerger.html

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