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Ministers to merge careers bodies Ministers to merge careers bodies
(about 4 hours later)
Two careers and training agencies are to be merged in a drive to improve skills, Scottish ministers announced.Two careers and training agencies are to be merged in a drive to improve skills, Scottish ministers announced.
Careers Scotland will join with learndirect Scotland, which helps people with skills and training.Careers Scotland will join with learndirect Scotland, which helps people with skills and training.
But the merger was criticised by public services union Unison, which claimed staff views had been ignored. But the STUC and opposition parties raised concern that a merger would not deliver the needed improvements.
Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop said the Scottish Government aimed to take forward skills policy in line with those on economic development.Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop said the Scottish Government aimed to take forward skills policy in line with those on economic development.
The merger announcement coincided with the publication of a new strategy for skills.The merger announcement coincided with the publication of a new strategy for skills.
Ms Hyslop said she expected a "shell" organisation to be set up by the start of 2008 and a more formalised body to be in place by next April.Ms Hyslop said she expected a "shell" organisation to be set up by the start of 2008 and a more formalised body to be in place by next April.
Frontline staffFrontline staff
"This strategy sets out our objectives to develop a lifelong learning system centred upon the individual but responsive to employer needs," she said."This strategy sets out our objectives to develop a lifelong learning system centred upon the individual but responsive to employer needs," she said.
"It is important to make the link between this strategy and our policies on the economy. That is why we will take forward our skills development policies in close relationship with those on economic development, business improvement and innovation.""It is important to make the link between this strategy and our policies on the economy. That is why we will take forward our skills development policies in close relationship with those on economic development, business improvement and innovation."
The new strategy was welcomed by the Confederation of British Industry, which said it looked forward to turning it into action, but Unison, which represents Careers Scotland staff, said the merger announcement went against SNP promises to "de-clutter" the public sector. The new skills strategy was welcomed by the STUC and the Confederation of British Industry, which said it looked forward to turning it into action.
"We are particularly concerned that the cabinet secretary, despite representations, made no effort to hear the views of frontline staff before reaching this decision," said the union's Scottish organiser, Dave Watson. But the trades union congress claimed it did not believe the creation of "yet another quango" would deliver a better service.
"A careers service run by Scottish local authorities on a regional basis will, in our view, and the view of careers staff, improve the service and strengthen links with local government," said STUC Assistant Secretary Dave Moxham.
Conservative education spokesman Murdo Fraser said the new agency was "a step in the right direction", but fell short of what was required.
Jeremy Purvis, his Liberal Democrat opposite number, described the strategy as "flawed", claiming no committment had been made to fund it.