Independence from Westminster Independence from Westminster The Positioning of Scotland on Reserved Quangos Dave Griffiths University of Stirling Scotland: Ten Years On 19 th June 2009

Devolution for Scotland Scotland lacked a voice within the Union Scotland lacked a voice within the Union This implies an assumption that geography matters – Scottish interests deserve special treatment This implies an assumption that geography matters – Scottish interests deserve special treatment Communities should be able to influence policies Communities should be able to influence policies Does Scotland have a voice on reserved matters? Does Scotland have a voice on reserved matters?

Reserved matters constitutional matters constitutional matters UK foreign policy UK foreign policy UK defence and national security UK defence and national security fiscal, economic and monetary System fiscal, economic and monetary System immigration and nationality immigration and nationality energy: electricity, coal, gas and nuclear energy energy: electricity, coal, gas and nuclear energy common markets common markets trade and industry, including competition and customer protection trade and industry, including competition and customer protection some aspects of transport, including railways, transport safety and regulation some aspects of transport, including railways, transport safety and regulation employment legislation employment legislation social security social security gambling and the National Lottery gambling and the National Lottery data protection data protection abortion, human fertilisation and embryology, genetics, xenotransplantation and vivisection abortion, human fertilisation and embryology, genetics, xenotransplantation and vivisection equal opportunities equal opportunities Source:

Quangos Quangos offer governmental decision- making independent of party politics Quangos offer governmental decision- making independent of party politics ESRC an example –funding of economic and social research not politicised and administrated by experts ESRC an example –funding of economic and social research not politicised and administrated by experts Appointed experts formulate national decisions and the spending of public money Appointed experts formulate national decisions and the spending of public money

Organisational social capital Quangocrats selected to govern, not consult Quangocrats selected to govern, not consult Boardrooms often rubber-stamp decisions made through informal interactions Boardrooms often rubber-stamp decisions made through informal interactions Knowledge of other institutions’ thoughts increases perception in boardrooms Knowledge of other institutions’ thoughts increases perception in boardrooms Regions and sites of interactions can influence transfer of knowledge Regions and sites of interactions can influence transfer of knowledge So, which regions are allowing the sites of these informal social interactions? So, which regions are allowing the sites of these informal social interactions?

Methodology Data collected on 187 Westminster quangos Data collected on 187 Westminster quangos 106 have relevance to Scotland 106 have relevance to Scotland All details of directors’ external interests collected – names of boards and area of governance All details of directors’ external interests collected – names of boards and area of governance Reference date of 1 st January 2007 Reference date of 1 st January 2007 Social network analysis used to discover influential positions of regions Social network analysis used to discover influential positions of regions

Reserved Quangos All Quangos 106 quangos 75 outside main component 1,613 quangocrats 48 sitting on multiple boards 187 quangos 80 outside main component 2,858 quangocrats 123 sitting on multiple boards

Examples of Westminster quangos governing Scotland Alcohol Education and Research Council, Architects Registration Board, BBC, Big Lottery Fund, BNFL, British Council, British Potato Council, Commission for Racial Equity, Competition Commission, Design Council, Home Grown Cereals Authority, Horseracing Betting Levy Board, Hearing Aid Council, Human Tissue Authority, Investors in People, Medical Research Council, Milk Development Council, National Biological Standards Board, Northern Lighthouse Board, Ofcom, Office of the Immigration Service, Passenger Focus, Postwatch, Pension Regulator, Royal Mail, Serious Organised Crime Agency, Student Loans Company, UK Film Council, VisitBritain

UK-UK UK- ‘England’ ‘England’- ‘England’ Ties Interlocking quangocrat ties by region governed 106 UK quangos 81 ‘English’ quangos

Multiplicity of external organisations Quango boardrooms are not the only source of communication Quango boardrooms are not the only source of communication Charities, arts organisations and other social groups allow ideas and concepts to flow Charities, arts organisations and other social groups allow ideas and concepts to flow Those operating in geographical areas can be influenced by localised norms and ideals Those operating in geographical areas can be influenced by localised norms and ideals Therefore, measuring the influence of the wider network helps understand the role of Scotland on reserved quango decision- making Therefore, measuring the influence of the wider network helps understand the role of Scotland on reserved quango decision- making

QuangosPeople All London60141 South East4672 South West3539 Scotland3146 West Midlands2531 East2025 Overseas1926 East Midlands1921 Yorkshire1819 Wales17 North West1416 North East 88 Northern Ireland 67

Closeness centrality Closeness centrality measures how few brokers are required to connect one organisation to all others Closeness centrality measures how few brokers are required to connect one organisation to all others The higher the value, the better connected the institution is to channels of power The higher the value, the better connected the institution is to channels of power The more distant, the less opportunity exists to influence others and gather new information The more distant, the less opportunity exists to influence others and gather new information Power is related to the opportunity to access positions of influence Power is related to the opportunity to access positions of influence

Above average Below average No ties No. All64%27%8%432 East81%15%4%25 London80%17%3%141 West Midlands 73%21%6%31 Northern Ireland 71%14%14%7 South East 69%25%6%72 South West 52%36%11%39 North West 50%44%6%16 Wales50%39%11%17 East Midlands 48%38%14%21 Yorkshire48%29%24%19 Scotland36%45%19%46 North East 25%75%0%8 Individuals by percentage

Above average Below average No ties Total London South East West Midlands 2372 South West East2041 Scotland17209 East Midlands 1083 Wales972 Yorkshire965 North West 871 Northern Ireland 511 North East 260 Individuals by number

Top quartile Second quartile Third quartile Bottom quartile London44%22%22%12% South East 26%18%30%26% North West 26%13%43%17% South West 23%30%14%34% East22%52%19%7% Northern Ireland 22%22%33%22% Wales14%29%24%33% West Midlands 11%39%21%29% Yorkshire8%16%28%48% Scotland6%18%12%64% East Midlands 5%27%27%41% North East 0%30%10%60% Organisations by quartile

Scottish Social Capital Seafish and Northern Lighthouse Board have large number of Scottish interests Seafish and Northern Lighthouse Board have large number of Scottish interests Their directors are heavily focussed on specific work, rather than holding a varied range of interests Their directors are heavily focussed on specific work, rather than holding a varied range of interests Bonding within their own sector leads to isolation from others Bonding within their own sector leads to isolation from others Those quangos which bond inwards are more likely to require representation from the Scottish sector Those quangos which bond inwards are more likely to require representation from the Scottish sector

Regionalised components London: 12 cultural organisations; 16 educational bodies; 2 hospitals; 2 think tanks; 2 religious communities; 1 business grouping London: 12 cultural organisations; 16 educational bodies; 2 hospitals; 2 think tanks; 2 religious communities; 1 business grouping South East: 2 universities South East: 2 universities Networks of connected outside institutions were not observed in the other 10 regions Networks of connected outside institutions were not observed in the other 10 regions

Regional social capital London’s cultural organisations had directors on British Waterways, Commission for Racial Equality, Passenger Focus, Postwatch and United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, amongst others. London’s cultural organisations had directors on British Waterways, Commission for Racial Equality, Passenger Focus, Postwatch and United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, amongst others. The Scottish organisations held connections bonded with their industry, such as seafishing, farming, lighthouses and so on. The Scottish organisations held connections bonded with their industry, such as seafishing, farming, lighthouses and so on. The Scottish bodies held social capital distant from the Social Elite. The London directors were highly prised in prestige. The Scottish bodies held social capital distant from the Social Elite. The London directors were highly prised in prestige.

Conclusions Quangocrat networks on reserved matters are identifiable Quangocrat networks on reserved matters are identifiable Scottish interests are represented on reserved quangos, but in marginalised positions Scottish interests are represented on reserved quangos, but in marginalised positions The opportunity for an elite to preserve quango power is observable The opportunity for an elite to preserve quango power is observable This is centred around London organisations This is centred around London organisations It does not require a conscious effort to exploit this but influence can naturally develop It does not require a conscious effort to exploit this but influence can naturally develop Does the London political scene differ from the Scottish community? Labour’s recent elections suggest so Does the London political scene differ from the Scottish community? Labour’s recent elections suggest so