Latest news with #MartinWilliams
The Herald Scotland
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
£3m strikes cost to Scottish Water in 'fat cat' bonus & pay row
The three Scottish Water staff unions, which also include Unite and Unison, have already written to chief executive Alex Plant accusing the company of acting in bad faith, condemning its management culture in failing to deal with the dispute. Seven day action involving hundreds of workers which started on Monday has the potential to disrupt essential services, including water supply maintenance, waste water treatment, and emergency response to leaks or flooding. But Scottish Water has previously said that contingency plans are in place to enable it to maintain a normal service. Read more by Martin Williams: It has told users: "We will do all we can to ensure customers do not experience any disruption to their water supplies and that treatment of the country's waste water continues as usual, despite the planned industrial action. Union members on the picket line (Image: Andrew Milligan) "A reliable water source is vital for everyone. Maintaining public health and protecting the environment are our priorities, and it is the responsible course of action for us to have contingency plans ready." The estimates of the current strike action are based on revelations that it contingency plan costs of dealing with four days of strikes between November 10 and November 13 in 2023 amounted to £ included a £947,000 bill for water operations and customer service contractors It means that Scottish Water would be facing a further estimated bill of £2.8m to cover the third strike of the latest pay dispute which is to last seven days. It follows three 24-hour strikes, one in March and two in April which is estimated to have cost a further £1.2m Union sources say that Scottish Water would, however, be making an estimated saving of £125,000 a day on strike staff labour costs which would amount to £1.25m over the 10 days of strikes so far.. On Wednesday, striking Scottish Water workers staged a demonstration about over fair pay to Scottish Water's Glasgow offices in Renfrew Road. GMB Scotland says the dispute has potential to become one of the most significant in Scotland's public sector, with both sides miles from reaching an agreement. Further discussions over a new offer were being mulled over yesterday [Thursday]. It comes amidst a row over Mr Plant receiving a 50% rise in the existing pay package - despite public sector pay rules saying he should expect to have a 10% cut. The £483,000 remuneration for Alex Plant over just ten months of 2023/24 is nearly £100,000 more than the outgoing chief executive Douglas Millican, received in his last full year before taking flexible retirement which resulted in a cut in salary and reduced pension benefits. The Scottish Government's public sector pay policy has since 2010 included an "expectation" that the remuneration of a new chief executive appointment will be at least 10% lower than that of the outgoing officer. MSPs raised their concerns in the Scottish Parliament after The Herald further revealed that executives of the nation's state-owned water supplier saw bonuses hiked by over a third in one year - taking a five-year total to nearly £1.6m despite public sector pay rules suspending the payments. While Scottish Water has remained included on the list of public sector organisations that should conform with the pay policy, the Scottish Government say that they are exempt. The GMB said Mr Plant attended the talks on Tuesday for the first time after his absence had been criticised for only staying a few minutes before leaving. GMB Scotland said the Scottish Water strike costs should "shame" its negotiating team. Claire Greer, the union's organiser at the publicly-owned utility, said management have allowed the pay dispute to escalate without the apparent will or expertise to resolve it. She said: 'The cost to the public purse of this ongoing industrial action is likely to far outweigh what it would have cost Scottish Water to find a resolution to what should have been a very straightforward pay negotiation. Claire Greer (Image: GMB) 'That is beyond the pale and should dismay taxpayers and alarm ministers. It has become impossible to guess if Scottish Water are trying to play games in these negotiations or are simply incompetent. 'What is certain is that clear and transparent talks should have resolved this dispute months ago. "It is shameful that millions of pounds of public money is on the line because the management of this company is unwilling or unable to engage in pay talks in a competent manner.' Scottish Water workers downed tools on Monday after rejecting the company's latest pay offer. It initially offered workers a basic pay rise of 3.4% or £1,050 for those on the lowest grades. But after a 24-hour strikes in the spring, the offer was changed to 7% over two years. The strike comes as water bills have risen by 9.9% from April with the public utility firm saying it was necessary to cope with period of "drought and intense rainfall" brought on by climate change. Ms Greer has written to Gillian Martin, the Scottish Government minister responsible for Scottish Water, urging her to encourage executives to seriously engage with negotiations. She highlighted a number of concerns around the negotiations accusing management of trying to bypass unions and negotiate with workers directly; making a revised offer that was worse than one already rejected by workers; and quoting incorrect and misleading salary details in a formal offer. She states: 'Management have clearly demonstrated they do not intend to engage in good faith with trade unions, take the basic and necessary steps to avert strike action, or deliver a pay offer that values the workforce.' 'Industrial relations are at an all-time low because of a management culture which seems anti-union and holds the workforce in complete disregard.' Unions have warned that the pay rises and bonuses to executives have only increased the frustration of Scottish Water workers. After being challenged about the bonuses in the Scottish Parliament, climate action minister Alasdair Allan defended the pay policy saying: "The Scottish Government does seek to ensure that executive pay is kept under control". And he said it had sought that "when new chief executives come in to post that there are controls around wages and bonuses put in place". Scottish Water has defended the salary packages saying that they maintain and operate a "simple remuneration structure" with a pay policy that aims are to "attract, develop, motivate and retain highly talented people at all levels of the organisation" and to "incentivise and reward good individual and corporate performance as well as out-performance". Scottish Water operates under an annual borrowing limit set by the Scottish Government. The annual borrowing limit controls the amount by which Scottish Water can increase externally sourced finance. As at March 31, 2023, government loans totalled £4.5 billion. Net new borrowing by Scottish Water from the Scottish Government was planned to be to the tune of £196m in 2023/24 alone to carry out its activities. A spokesperson for Scottish Water said: 'We are committed to constructive talks with our trade union colleagues to find a sensible solution to this dispute. "The best way to avoid additional costs caused by the industrial action is for the strikes to stop and a resolution to be found as soon as possible.'
Forbes
2 days ago
- Science
- Forbes
When The Sahara Was Green By Martin Williams — Review
The fascinating but little-known history of how the Sahara was transformed from a pleasant green and fertile land into the largest hot desert in the world. Green Sahara. (Collage by Kuat Abeshev. Credits for images used in the collage: Photo by David Clode ... More on Unsplash; Photo by Mark Eder on Unsplash; Photo by David Clode on Unsplash.) It is probably unimaginable to most of us to learn that there was a time only 5,000 years ago, when the Sahara was not a desert at all. Instead, it was a green and fertile woodland and vast grassy savannah that hosted a plethora of lakes and rivers, and home to countless dinosaurs that roamed freely across the land. Later, prehistoric hunters and farmers lived in the Sahara alongside a veritable zoo of iconic African wildlife, including elephants, giraffes, hippos, a variety of gazelles, Nile perch, crocodiles, aurochs, Neolithic cattle, turtles, and an enormous collection of large trees and plants. All this, according to earth scientist Martin Williams, an Emeritus Professor at the University of Adelaide and a world authority on climatic and environmental change. In his captivating memoir, When the Sahara Was Green: How Our Greatest Desert Came to Be (Princeton University Press; 2023/2024), Professor Williams shares stories from his lifetime devoted to researching and exploring the Sahara Desert to provide us with a fascinating and readable overview of the surprisingly complex climate and geography of the Sahara. Professor Williams discusses the evidence that supports the answers that scientists know to some very basic questions, including; why was the Sahara previously much wetter than it is now, and will it become wetter again? ('Not for a long time,' p. 180). Did humans contribute to the Sahara's desertification? ('NO!' Pp. 143; 144-145). And where does all that sand come from? (Chapters 5 & 6). Paperback cover: When the Sahara Was Green by Martin Williams (Princeton University Press, ... More 2023/2024). Professor Williams points out that the Sahara Desert isn't actually all sand. Contrary to popular belief, sandy areas comprise only about 20% of the Sahara. Much of the Sahara consists of gravel along with extensive plateaus and – yes – rocky mountains. Divided into three parts, this readable history begins when the supercontinent Gondwana first appeared 7 million years ago, and follows its journey as it broke apart into major land masses: South America, Africa, Antarctica, Australia, Zealandia, Arabia, and the Indian subcontinent. Professor Williams also explores and explains ancient glaciations, historic sea level fluctuations, the geological and climatological reasons for why the Green Sahara dried out and became a desert, and how the very old basement rock underlying Africa still influences what happens on the surface today. Compelling writing and profound knowledge are carefully combined with deep history, decades of field work, personal observations and experiences. In this meticulously researched book, Professor Williams explores a wide variety of topics from the geological and climatic changes that influenced human evolution and created the Sahara as we know it, to modern environmental and political issues that confront us today. Throughout the entire book, Professor Williams' fundamental knowledge of the region's geology, archaeology and ecology makes this book rewarding and fascinating reading. The book includes lots of maps, photographs, drawings and diagrams to illustrate the regions and concepts that Professor Williams discusses in the text. One piece of advice I have is to use sticky notes as bookmarkers for maps 1, 2 and 3 because you will be referring to these maps many times as you read the book. I was perhaps most surprised by all the ancient human artifacts, pottery – some packed with fossilized fruits – arrowheads and other stone tools, and even some fossilized bones from ancient humans as well as the animals they interacted with, just lying on the surface of the sand or gravel. Mind-boggling. The anecdotes and first-hand experiences described herein make for tremendously compelling storytelling, and could only come from someone who has spent his life researching and working in the region. Professor Williams exhibits an astonishing depth and breadth of knowledge throughout the entire book, and is generous with his explanations of the scientific evidence to the reader. The Sahara Desert is a powerful warning of what the entire world is facing and the conclusions the author reaches have far-reaching implications beyond north Africa, especially as climate change progresses ever more rapidly. This important book is highly recommended for everyone interested in environmental history or law, or prehistory, and students of any of the sciences will learn a lot from reading it. © Copyright by GrrlScientist | hosted by Forbes | Socials: Bluesky | CounterSocial | Gab | LinkedIn | Mastodon Science | Spoutible | SubStack | Threads | Tribel | Tumblr | Twitter
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Call for law changes to ensure ScotGov public inquiries are effective
It has come as it emerged the Scottish Government has admitted there is no legal requirement to monitor whether lessons learnt recommendations from inquiries are actually acted on. Those inquiries cover 20 years and range from the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry, the Vale of Leven Inquiry investigation into the occurrence of C. difficile infection to the the Stockline inquiry into the 2004 explosion at the ICL Plastics factory in Glasgow and the public investigation into the integrity of the fingerprint service. The current cost of all live inquiries has soared thirteen-fold over ten years to stand at nearly £180m and it is estimated the overall costs has reached nearly £250m since 2007. The cost of the five live major inquiries that are currently running eclipses the solitary one that was live ten years ago - and even those costs are spiralling. At the start of last year the live inquiries were costing £120m. Ten years ago the solitary major inquiry at the time into the Edinburgh Tram project came at a total cost of £13m. It was set up to establish why the capital's trams project incurred delays, cost more than originally budgeted and delivered significantly less than was projected. Edinburgh Trams were subject of an inquiry into soaring costs and delays But there are concerns that overall cost figures for inquiries could well be a lot higher as they do not include the costs to government departments, other public bodies and those participating. The Scottish Government was asked by a group of MSPs how many of the 197 recommendations, including 11 interim and a plan of action from a series of public inquiries since 2007 were implemented and what its role is in monitoring and ensuring lessons are learnt. But they were told that the law does not require ministers to act as overseer in this area, even though under the Inquiries Act 2005, the chairman of an inquiry must provide a final report to the ministers, setting out the facts determined by the inquiry panel and any recommendations where its terms of reference lay that out. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, response to questions about which recommendations were actioned did not spell out what of the 200 lessons were actually acted upon from inquiries formally established by ministers. READ MORE by Martin Williams: Why does Scotland hold costly 'lessons learnt' public inquiries Ministers warned over public inquiries secrecy as taxpayer cost soars by £60m in a year Swinney urged to act over 'stalled' lifeline funding of ferry fiasco firm Revealed: £400k public cost of ScotGov Euro 2028 ticket tout ban that 'won't work' 'People going bananas': New ferry fiasco hits vital island supplies 'Stretched to breaking': Nation loses 800 officers since formation of Police Scotland Instead she states that the Act "does not contain any provision for centrally monitoring over whether the accepted inquiry recommendations are actually implemented". And she added: "There is no legal obligation to respond to a report." The questions related to recommendations of concluded public inquiries since 2007, and also include the Penrose infected blood probe. She further states in answer to questions about what lessons have been learnt, that in practice, an area of government "will be identified as responsible for taking forward recommendations (where appropriate) and ensuring delivery where they are accepted". She said recommendations may also be made by an inquiry relating to other parties, such as public bodies, "which would be for their consideration". The current cost of the two live inquiries into health-related issues including the Covid-19 pandemic currently stands at £64.3m. There were no live health-related public inquiries ten years ago, although in the decade previously, there were two which together cost £22.8m. Over £12m of legal and administrative costs has been incurred by NHS bodies alone responding to public inquiries since 2021. NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) which is a core participant in the long-running Scottish Covid-19 pandemic inquiry and has participated in two further public probes says it has spent £3.1m since 2021/22 in responding to public inquiries through legal and other administrative costs. On top of that a further £9m in legal services for public inquiries was provided to NHS Scotland boards by the NSS's Central Legal Office. NSS, which reports directly to the Scottish Government, and works at the heart of Scotland's health service, providing national strategic support services and expert advice to NHS Scotland, suggested an independent advisory body could be established to decide whether a public inquiry should be held and hold to account those probes that did go ahead. It suggested that the current processes for monitoring public inquiry costs are "inadequate" saying that they are not reimbursed "or reported consistently". The NSS said that the advisory body could have a role in assessing the costs. "Tight terms of reference are essential when a public inquiry is established to ensure value for money" they said. NSS said that the inquiries' effectiveness "can vary considerably". It said that work was needed to look at each concluded inquiry in Scotland against its terms of reference and examine what the has been achieved. It said that that would allow effectiveness "to be measured in more detail". It said a new advisory body could examine what opportunities there area for learning lessons, whether it would be effective and whether it would be value for money. It could also ensure a consistency of approach and oversee costs that are incurred. And it suggested that a law could be introduced to ensure that lessons are learnt from public inquiries, indicating that in terms of lessons learnt "consistency and cascading out can be challenging". The independent advisory body could "support consistency in cascading lessons learned". Section 28 of the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Death etc (Scotland) Act 2016 introduced a requirement that those to whom recommendations are directed must provide a response within eight weeks to set out what changes have been made or are proposed. Alternatively it has to provide the reasons why no action is being taken. It suggested a similar law that is brought in for public inquiries "requiring participants in public inquiries to report to parliament with their written response to the inquiries' reports". Lord Hardie, the man in charge of the Edinburgh tram probe has admitted there were limitations when inquiries like the one he oversaw was established by the Scottish Government as non-statutory, which he says he was not consulted over. He has said in correspondence seen by the Scottish Government that this led to him being unable to access material held by the City of Edinburgh Council and resulted in the refusal of key witnesses to co-operate. The most expensive and longest running of the current probes is the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry into historical abuse of children in residential care that was formally established in October 2015 - ten months after the Scottish Government announced that it would happen. Concerns have been raised about delays and mounting costs - which was running at £78.211m at the start of last year and has risen to £95.3m as of March 2025. The second most expensive live public probe is the Scottish Covid-19 inquiry which started in August 2022 to examine Scotland's response to and the impact of the pandemic and to learn lessons for the future. It had run up costs of £12.816m by the start of last year. And by December last year it was at £34m. The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry chaired by Lord Brodie QC which is examining issues of safety and wellbeing issues at two Scots health establishments had cost £14.33m at the start of last year after opening in August 2020. It had risen to £23.6m in December 2024. It is examining complaints around the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow, and the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP) and Department of Clinical Neurosciences in Edinburgh. Its final report is expected to be issued at the end of next year after calls for further evidence. The latest inquiry into Sam Eljamel, who harmed dozens of patients and left some with life-changing injuries, was launched last month and has racked up £1.08m in costs so far - before hearing any evidence. Mr Eljamel was head of neurosurgery at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital until his suspension in December 2013. He resigned a year later and is now believed to be operating in Libya. At the start of last year, the Herald revealed the cost of live inquiries at that point was at £120m, while the Scottish Parliament launched an inquiry last month into their cost effectiveness last month. MSPs are to further consider the role of public inquiries today. Research suggests the total cost of all public inquiries launched over the last 18 years, in today's prices, is at £230m so far. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Public inquiries are set up when no other avenue is deemed sufficient given the issues of public concern. In many cases, such as the Scottish Covid Inquiry, they are set up with the support of, or in response to calls from, the Scottish Parliament. "Public inquiries operate independently of government and the chair has a statutory duty to avoid unnecessary costs.'
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Why does Scotland hold public inquiries amidst escalating costs
It has come as it emerged the Scottish Government has admitted there is no legal requirement to monitor whether lessons learnt recommendations from inquiries are actually acted on. The current cost of all live inquiries has soared thirteen-fold over ten years to stand at nearly £180m and it is estimated the overall costs has reached nearly £250m since 2007. What are public inquiries? Public inquiries in Scotland are formal investigations established to examine events or issues of significant public concern. They are often convened in response to events that have caused significant public concern, such as disasters, systemic failures, or allegations of misconduct. The inquiries are typically independent and aim to establish facts, determine accountability, and recommend changes to prevent recurrence. Why are they held? They aim to uncover the truth, ensure accountability, and recommend improvements to prevent future occurrences. They aim to establish what happened during a particular event or series of events and to determine who was responsible for the events in question. They seek to learn lessons from an event, identify what went wrong and recommend measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. They aim to restore public confidence, and show that issues are being taken seriously and addressed appropriately. Do they have any legal standing? They are primarily governed by the Inquiries Act 2005 which sets out procedures for their establishment and conduct including the appointment of a chairman, the powers to compel evidence, and the publication of findings. Additionally, the Inquiries (Scotland) Rules 2007 provides specific procedural rules for inquiries held in Scotland. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- READ MORE by Martin Williams ScotGov says it has 'no legal obligation' to ensure 20 years of inquiry lessons are learnt Ministers warned over public inquiries secrecy as taxpayer cost soars by £60m in a year Swinney urged to act over 'stalled' lifeline funding of ferry fiasco firm Revealed: £400k public cost of ScotGov Euro 2028 ticket tout ban that 'won't work' 'People going bananas': New ferry fiasco hits vital island supplies 'Stretched to breaking': Nation loses 800 officers since formation of Police Scotland --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- They can be either statutory or non-statutory, with statutory inquiries having legal powers to compel evidence and witness testimony under the Inquiries Act. What are the most notable public inquiries in Scotland? The Scottish Child Abuse inquiry which was established in 2015 to investigate the abuse of children in care faced criticism for delays and costs which have exceeded £90m. The Scottish Child Abuse InquiryThe second most expensive live public probe is the Scottish Covid-19 inquiry which started in August, 2022 to examine Scotland's response to and the impact of the pandemic and to learn lessons for the future. Its costs in December last year were at £34m. The Penrose inquiry which ran between 2008 and 2015 examined the transmission of hepatitis C and HIV through NHS blood products. The inquiry faced criticism for its limited scope and lack of accountability. The Edinburgh Tram Inquiry which was started in 2014 to investigate delays and cost overruns in the capital trams project also faced scrutiny for its prolonged duration and expenses. And the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry was established in 2019 to examine issues related to the construction of two major hospitals, focusing on patient safety and building standards. How are public inquiries conducted? They appoint a chairman and set terms of reference where the scope of the probe is defined. The inquiry collects written and oral evidence from witnesses, experts, and relevant parties. Public hearings may be held to examine evidence and question witnesses, often open to the public and media. A final report is usually published, detailing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Throughout the process, inquiries aim to be transparent and impartial, ensuring public trust in their findings. What are the challenges that public inquiries face? Their costs can be expensive, with some, like the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, costing over £90 million. And they can take several years to complete, leading to criticism over delays in justice and implementation of recommendations. There has also been concern that recommendations from inquiries are not always acted upon promptly or effectively, limiting their impact. How effective are public inquiries? It varies. While they can reveal critical information and lead to significant reforms, their success is reliant on the implementation of recommendations, the willingness of authorities to enact change and the ability to get to all crucial evidence. There is concern about about the standing of non-statutory inquiries through the ability to access evidence and to compel key witnesses to co-operate. Unlike statutory inquiries, participation with non-statutory inquiries such as the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry is voluntary which can hinder the inquiry's ability to gather comprehensive evidence. Edinburgh Tram InquiryInquiries that are seen as thorough and impartial tend to restore confidence, while those seen as delayed or inconclusive may exacerbate public dissatisfaction. How does the Scottish Government view public inquiries? They see public inquiries as essential instruments for investigating events of significant public concern, establishing facts, and ensuring accountability. They are designed to operate independently, providing transparent and thorough examinations of issues to learn lessons and implement necessary changes. In establishing the Scottish Covid inquiry, the government emphasised its dedication to openness and accountability. The inquiry was tasked with scrutinizing the strategic handling of the pandemic, aiming to provide an independent assessment of decisions and actions taken. And the government said that reflected its belief in the effectiveness of public inquiries to address complex issues and restore public confidence. It has previously told the Herald: "Public inquiries provide important opportunities to establish facts and to learn lessons for the future in the most transparent means possible. "Statutory public inquiries are established in accordance with the Inquiries Act 2005 and operate independently of government."
The Herald Scotland
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
ScotGov warned over inquiries secrecy as public cost soars by £60m
A watchdog's investigation into the Scottish Government's deletion of electronic messages is expected to make judgments on ministers' communications and record keeping practices this summer. The current cost of live inquiries has soared thirteen-fold over ten years to stand at nearly £180m. The cost of the five live major inquiries that are currently running eclipses the solitary one that was live ten years ago - and even those costs are spiralling. The current public cost of the inquiries that are live is enough to build 10 average sized schools. At the start of last year the live inquiries were costing £120m. Ten years ago the solitary major inquiry at the time into the Edinburgh Tram project came at a total cost of £13m. It was set up to establish why the capital's trams project incurred delays, cost more than originally budgeted and delivered significantly less than was projected. Edinburgh TramsBut there are concerns that overall cost figures for inquiries could well be a lot higher as they do not include the costs to government departments, other public bodies and those participating. The solicitors group warned that until the deletion of data from public inquiries is banned by law - the effectiveness of public probes will be compromised. Inquiries are a way to scrutinise serious events of public concern that have occurred and can fulfil multiple purposes including establishing the facts, determining accountability, learning lessons and making recommendations. While seen by some as crucial in certain circumstances, the rising numbers has led to escalating concerns that politicians and officials are over-relying on them as a way of dealing with key issues, hoping they will go away. They have established a reputation for being slow-moving. But there are concerns about just how open they actually are. It was during the 12 sessions of the UK Government-commissioned Covid inquiry probe which took place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) last year that the former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon denied accusations of secrecy, while admitting that she deleted her WhatsApp messages during the pandemic. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- READ MORE by Martin Williams Why does Scotland hold public inquiries amidst escalating costs Swinney urged to act over 'stalled' lifeline funding of ferry fiasco firm Revealed: £400k public cost of ScotGov Euro 2028 ticket tout ban that 'won't work' 'People going bananas': New ferry fiasco hits vital island supplies 'Stretched to breaking': Nation loses 800 officers since formation of Police Scotland --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- She said decisions were not made via informal messages and that they were deleted in line with government policy. It was also during the UK inquiry that the deputy first minister John Swinney also admitted that he deleted messages between himself, Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf in a practice which could date back to 2007. It has emerged Scottish Information Commissioner, which has been probing the Scottish government's use of informal messaging for over a year, is expected to make judgments on its practices this summer. The Scottish Information Commissioner stated that the Covid-19 inquiry had raised "significant practice concerns" over how ministers used messaging services such as WhatsApp and has been investigating since February, last year. The professional body for over 13,000 Scottish solicitors has warned ministers: "The key to effectiveness of any public inquiry depends significantly upon the preservation and availability of relevant information. Scottish Covid Inquiry (Image: PA) "The UK and Scottish Covid inquiries have demonstrated the governmental use of WhatsApp, other social media and data. The deletion of this data as part of the public record means that such material will not be available to the inquiries." In an overview of the effectiveness of public inquiries currently under examination, they said: "This will reduce the efficacy of those inquiries and unless the deletion of such data is prohibited by law of future Inquiries too." They said that the Inquiries Act 2005 needs some amendment to improve the way they work. They suggest a re-examination over its compatibility with the European Convention of Human Rights - as the Act give ministers power to issue restriction notices to withhold material from publication and even to withdraw funding. It also provided ministers with "wide discretion" to commission an inquiry but not to explain why it would not agree to one. "This should be remedied, if the Act is to be amended," they say. The latest inquiry into Sam Eljamel, who harmed dozens of patients and left some with life-changing injuries, was launched last month and has racked up £1.08m in costs so far - before hearing any evidence. Mr Eljamel was head of neurosurgery at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital until his suspension in December 2013. He resigned a year later and is now believed to be operating in Libya. The most expensive and longest running of the current probes is the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry into historical abuse of children in residential care that was formally established in October, 2015 - ten months after the Scottish Government announced that it would happen. Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Image: Supplied) Concerns have been raised about delays and mounting costs - which was running at £78.211m at the start of last year and has risen to £95.3m as of March, 2025. Alastair Bonnington, former honorary professor of law at the University of Glasgow, believes that public inquiries should be scrapped. The retired former head of legal at BBC Scotland for 16 years said: "We firstly have to recognise that Inquiries are often set up by Scottish politicians for purely political reasons, not for the proper purpose of discovering facts which will be useful for the future. That's why we have the separate Scottish Covid Inquiry. It's a complete waste of time and money, purely aimed at showing that 'Scotland is different'. "The obsession of the current Scottish administration in keeping everything secret - usually to avoid revealing their idiocy - is a huge problem. "The inquiry judge should be able to overrule these desperate attempts to withhold information from the public. The Scottish government use of WhatsApp as a way to avoid scrutiny is a classic example." Lord Hardie, the man in charge of the Edinburgh tram probe has further admitted there were limitations when inquiries like the one he oversaw was established by the Scottish Government as non-statutory, which he says he was not consulted over. He has said in correspondence seen by the Scottish Government that this led to him being unable to access material held by the City of Edinburgh Council and resulted in the refusal of key witnesses to co-operate. The second most expensive live public probe is the Scottish Covid-19 inquiry which started in August, 2022 to examine Scotland's response to and the impact of the pandemic and to learn lessons for the future. It had run up costs of £12.816m by the start of last year. And by December last year it was at £34m. The inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh launched in November, 2019 had cost £16.289m at the start of last year. As of December, it was at £23.8m. Sheku Bayohin 2015 after a struggle while being restrained by police officers in Kirkcaldy in May, 2015. There are concerns those costs could spiral even more after the inquiry confirmed it had just recruited a top lawyer from London after concerns were raised over the impartiality of the probe's chair. Jason Beer KC has been appointed as the third senior counsel to the beleaguered investigation. The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry chaired by Lord Brodie QC which is examining issues of safety and wellbeing issues at two Scots health establishments had cost £14.33m at the start of last year after opening in August, 2020. It had risen to £23.6m in December, 2024. It is examining complaints around the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow, and the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP) and Department of Clinical Neurosciences in Edinburgh. Its final report is expected to be issued at the end of next year after calls for further evidence. The Iraq Inquiry, into the UK's involvement in the Iraq War, chaired by Sir John Chilcot, cost just over £13m over the eight years it was in action. At the start of last year, the Herald revealed the cost of live inquiries at that point was at £120m, while the Scottish Parliament launched an inquiry last month into their cost effectiveness last month. Research suggests the total cost of all public inquiries launched over the last 18 years, in today's prices, is at £230m so far. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Public inquiries are set up when no other avenue is deemed sufficient given the issues of public concern. In many cases, such as the Scottish Covid Inquiry, they are set up with the support of, or in response to calls from, the Scottish Parliament. "Public inquiries operate independently of government and the chair has a statutory duty to avoid unnecessary costs.'
