SCOTLAND OFFICE STAFFING MUSHROOMS.

SCOTLAND OFFICE STAFFING MUSHROOMS

MACNEIL: ‘WHAT DO THEY DO ALL DAY?’

SNP Shadow Scotland Office spokesperson, Angus MacNeil MP, has demanded answers from Scottish Secretary, Jim Murphy, as to why the number of employees at the Scotland Office has rocketed by 300%.

Mr MacNeil has written to the Secretary of State for Scotland asking why figures published today (Wednesday) reveal that staffing levels at the Scotland Office have increased from 20 in 2000 to 60 in the last quarter.

Mr MacNeil said:

“Since devolution the remit of the Scotland Office has shrunk but its staffing levels have mushroomed.

”It is not entirely obvious what Jim Murphy does all day, never mind his 60 staff. They certainly have not been working in Scotland’s interests.

“The Scotland Office were nowhere to be found when the Chancellor announced a £1bn cut to the Scottish Budget and it has failed to take any action to release the other £1bn of Scottish resources being withheld by the Treasury.

“When the Chancellor launched a devastating attack on the Scottish whisky industry with a stealth tax hidden deep in his Pre-Budget Report, the Scotland Office did not even seem to know about it.

“When the Prime Minister launched an assault on Scotland’s national football team, Jim Murphy was busy commentating on Strictly Come Dancing.

“Notably, staffing levels increased in the quarter following the SNP’s election victory in May 2007 – I doubt very much that is a coincidence.

“The Scotland Office costs almost £8m a year to run. This money would be better spent providing front line services than funding a department which is neither use nor ornament.”