Report to the People
23rd February 2004
Airborne Divisions
At
the Scottish Parliament’s Environment Committee the other week, Lib Dem MSP,
Nora Radcliffe, moved an amendment to the Nature Conservation Bill which would
make it an offence to disturb birds.
Reports
are already reaching us that Frank McAvennie has fled the country.
One
person who might feel like joining him is Deputy Justice Minister, Hugh Henry.
Not, I hasten to add, for ornithological reasons, but because he has come
under an extraordinary attack – for having the cheek to stop the waste of
taxpayers’ money!
Hugh
has decided to pull the plug on the controversial Airborne project.
As those of you who saw the documentary about the scheme will know, it
offers young, hardened criminals an alternative to jail. Instead
of being imprisoned, the offenders take a trip to the countryside, where they
are treated to outdoor activities and counselling sessions.
This,
understandably, did not go down too well with the viewers.
What sort of message, many asked, does giving this opportunity to some
pretty unpleasant offenders send to the young people from the same backgrounds
with the strength of character to stay on the straight and narrow?
(Young people who, of course, would either have to save up for an
activity holiday or go without.)
This
justifiable anger aside, though, what Airborne couldn’t escape was the fact
was that it simply didn’t work. It
had been going for a decade and cost the Scottish Executive nearly £600,000
last year alone. But, despite all
that time and money, only around half of the young offenders who began the
course completed it – not even 40 last year.
A quick bit of maths tells you that’s £15,000 a head.
Like
many MSPs, I am regularly approached by local people with great ideas for
initiatives which might really make a difference in our community.
They find it almost impossible, however, to get funding even for a pilot
project.
On
the other hand, if you’re already inside the system and receiving financial
support, it seems more difficult to lose it.
This gives rise to the suspicion that it’s the strength of your
network, rather than the strength of your proposals, which determines how easy
it is to get a government grant. Against
this backdrop, it is not surprising that value for money and results take a back
seat.
There
is a growing feeling in government that a lot of these relationships are far too
cosy. So don’t be too surprised
if questions start to be asked about how many more white elephants like Airborne
are out there.
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