Statement on public service reform
Presiding Officer, the purpose of today's statement is to explain how we will take the next steps towards world class public services.
Public services are central to the well-being of the people of Scotland: a lifeline in times of need, a platform on which we can build better lives for ourselves; we all at some time or another depend upon them.
Effective public services drive our economy and bind our communities, they should be a statement about the kind of society that we want to be.
Our ambition is to create public services in Scotland which are exemplars, services which can sustain and inspire citizens.
We don't apologise for seeking the continuous improvement necessary to achieve this because we know that the cost of failing to act now will be met by future generations.
I also know that such ambitions are shared in this Parliament and across the public services in Scotland.
Reform is required to remove barriers that hinder our ability to deliver effective and efficient public services.
But it is also essential to encourage the innovation and excellence that will enable our public services to respond to the changing world in which we live.
Just a few weeks ago the First Minister outlined our government's Futures Project, and gave us a clear reminder of the pace at which the world is changing.
Technological, environmental, demographic, and social changes.
A world of new challenges and a world of new opportunities.
A world where, quite rightly, the needs and expectations of service users are changing too.
It is clear that if we are to meet rising expectations and cope with the substantial changes that our society will face, be they economic or demographic, we must sweep away the obstacles to more cohesive service delivery no matter what form they take.
Many of these challenges and opportunities are faced by other countries around the world.
I want us to be at the forefront of rising to the challenge, placing Scotland and its citizens in the strongest possible position for the future.
And so today I am publishing a discussion document, - Transforming Public Services - the next phase of reform, to be followed by a series of dialogue events across Scotland.
This document sets out what we have achieved so far, and raises questions about how we might build on these reforms and drive forward transformational change.
I hope that the document will provide a helpful basis for discussions among those who use and deliver public services in Scotland.
I see this as nothing less than a historic opportunity for communities and those with a stake in their success to help shape the delivery of services that best suits their circumstances.
Discussions with a focus on generating radical and practical innovations.
Discussions that will further develop, move on and widen the scope of public service reform.
A bottom up approach to transforming our public services for future generations.
The document covers all public services - local government, health, justice, emergency services, further education, enterprise and more.
And it's not just the public sector - reform will include the private and voluntary sector where they are involved with the delivery of public services.
I make it clear in the document that our approach to this dialogue will be guided by the five principles set by the First Minister earlier this year.
Firstly, user focus and personalisation.
That means putting people at the centre of the design and delivery of public services.
Enabling them to easily access efficient and effective services - whether this be a doctor's appointment, paying their council tax, meeting with a social worker, getting access to the police, whatever it may be.
And also making sure that service users have a real influence over how and where services are designed and delivered.
Secondly, quality and innovation - we want Scotland to be a hothouse of innovation - providing quality and effective services that maximise 21st century opportunities: and
thirdly, efficiency and productivity. We will seek new ways to continue to maximise every pound of public money; and
fourthly, joining up - if we are to organise services around the user then we need to work more closely together. We need to tackle demarcation at every level and we need to remove statutory and cultural obstacles to joint working.
And finally, accountability - the money we spend, the services we provide belong to the people of Scotland. There must be clear and transparent lines of accountability from service delivery to service user.
We will move forward, based on those 5 principles, in a way that enhances and builds upon the progress made with Delivering for Health, Efficient Government, a Teacher's Agreement for the 21st Century, the wide-ranging Justice reforms, the integration of the tourism networks, major review of cultural provision, the 21st century social work review, and much more.
All of this will continue.
Indeed we want the discussion and dialogue to support them further and to enable the sharing of good practice.
From this dialogue I am confident that we will see substantial changes in the way in which Local Government organises itself, but I want to be clear that our agenda is much more ambitious than a crude reorganisation.
The mistakes of the past were predicated on a vendetta against local government, the successes of the future will be predicated on a comprehensive and objective examination of how all those who serve the public can work smarter together.
It is important to stress that we have engaged in this process, not to address a failure in Scottish Public Services, far from it, but to ensure that their undoubted successes are built upon for future generations.
We will not drive forward this dialogue with the people of Scotland by prescribing the solutions in advance.
Sadly, some have already done so: it will be for them to try to justify their pursuit of a cheap headline.
We will harness the enthusiasm, the energy and the commitment amongst the thousands of public servants who have been held back for too long.
The dialogue which follows the publication of this document will be open and wide ranging, enabling voices across the Scottish public services to be heard.
Many thousands of committed public servants strive on a daily basis to show initiative and strong leadership.
We will create the conditions that make it easier for them to do that.
Many thousands of service users are frustrated at their inability to further influence the shape of Scottish Public Services.
We intend to provide that opportunity.
We have no doubt that this document will tap into the enthusiasm for change that already exists.
Just a year ago, there were many who said that the innovative projects like the Glasgow Pathfinder could never come to pass. There were many who would have said that the type of exciting work going on in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, or developments in Stirling and Clackmannanshire on integrated services - would never happen.
Presiding Officer, today the dynamism of committed public servants and politicians has proved them wrong.
And where innovation and lateral thinking raises its head, we are determined to help.
Last week I announced a review of regulation and scrutiny arrangements to reduce the unnecessary burdens and remove barriers to improvement and change.
Tomorrow I will publish the results of our Lean project research - a piece of work that will enable the Scottish public sector to improve performance by taking what is best and relevant from the private sector.
Through this document and the dialogue process we will provide further momentum to these, and other, changes.
This is exactly what devolution should be about - enabling us to do what's best for Scotland and not being afraid to think radically.
Banning smoking in public places is a good example of Scotland thinking big, and devolution delivering a life-changing policy.
So let us embrace this chance to build upon the existing reforms - in our health service, our courts, our education system and more.
Take this chance to truly drive forward a public services reform agenda that is right for the people and the future of Scotland.
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