Newsnet Main Articles
Wednesday, 11 July 2012 23:11
28 Comments
By Martin Kelly
A BBC Scotland reporter has cast doubt on the accuracy of savings announced yesterday by the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT).
Douglas Fraser (pictured), who is the broadcaster’s Business and Economy Editor for Scotland, claimed yesterday that the SFT were “not beyond spinning” the figure of £131 million annual savings the body announced yesterday.
In a report on the savings announcement, the BBC reporter also described the trusts published figure as having only “some credibility”, despite it having been verified by respected accountants Grant Thornton and the London School of Economics.
The criticism from the BBC correspondent followed the publication of savings the trust say will allow them to build an extra twelve schools in Scotland.
However, Mr Fraser, a former political journalist at the Herald newspaper, appeared to suggest the success was not as clear cut as the announcement indicated, and said: “These are the Scottish Futures Trust figures themselves, it’s not been done by outsiders.
“It’s been validated by the accountants Grant Thornton and the London School of Economics, which gives it some credibility, but I don’t think it is beyond spinning the figures.
“It all depends on what your starting point is and an awful lot of the savings they’ve claimed in past years has come from the very expensive rate of employing private sector consultants.”
In a report for Radio Scotland Mr Fraser appeared to play down the success of the SFT, repeatedly drawing attention to what he claimed was a lack of success in tackling the excessive profits of PFI contracts – one of the key aims of the body set up by the SNP.
Mr Fraser claimed that the SFT had not delivered quite as expected in the area of PFI and had found other roles instead. He claimed that PFI savings accounted for “only” £7million of the £131million.
The BBC Scotland reporter said: “The SNP government set this up, it had three full years of operating. It wanted the Scottish Futures Trust – it was an idea when it was in opposition to replace PFI, the Private Finance Initiative and variations on that, which were seen to have excessive profits for the financiers who were funding these public projects.
“Now it hasn’t worked quite as expected, the savings on that only account for less than £7million of the £131million it is claimed it is saving, or generating for the public purse for projects.”
Speaking in the same report, Sir Angus Grossart, who chairs the SFT, described the PFI contracts that had been negotiated by the last Labour administration as “unsatisfactory” and “not properly defined or disciplined”.
The financier insisted the body had been able to “bring that discipline into the process”.
The SFT have now been asked by the Scottish Government to bring the same cost saving measures to existing public estate with the aim of saving £500million over five years.
Hear Mr Fraser’s full report
Comments
#
2012-07-12 07:27
I remember being berated by my mother when I was young with the immortal words ,
" Nothing pleases you , absolutely nothing!"
Lord, I am so sick of BBBC Scotland.
( STV not far behind!)
" Nothing pleases you , absolutely nothing!"
Lord, I am so sick of BBBC Scotland.
( STV not far behind!)
#
2012-07-12 11:36
Quoting Diabloandco:
Hopefully you've given a small donation to The Make Believers project.
sponsume.com/.../...
Another of the many nails heading towards the BBC coffin!
I remember being berated by my mother when I was young with the immortal words ,
" Nothing pleases you , absolutely nothing!"
Lord, I am so sick of BBBC Scotland.
( STV not far behind!)
Hopefully you've given a small donation to The Make Believers project.
sponsume.com/.../...
Another of the many nails heading towards the BBC coffin!
#
2012-07-16 13:39
I[quote name="Diabloandco"] Lord, I am so sick of BBBC Scotland.
ME TOO !
I caught Dougie lying a few months ago in one of his
articles where he had changed both the times and the dates
of events to "invent" an anti-SNP story.
Even though the response admitted that just because Dougie had changed the facts to "create a bit of political spin " - they suggested that I was being a bit harsh by saying that he had lied.
Geez ! What planet do these people come from.
ME TOO !
I caught Dougie lying a few months ago in one of his
articles where he had changed both the times and the dates
of events to "invent" an anti-SNP story.
Even though the response admitted that just because Dougie had changed the facts to "create a bit of political spin " - they suggested that I was being a bit harsh by saying that he had lied.
Geez ! What planet do these people come from.
#
2012-07-12 09:17
Come on, people, its Douglas Fraser.
What did you expect?
I simply don't believe anything that he says or writes.
What did you expect?
I simply don't believe anything that he says or writes.
#
2012-07-12 10:30
good article
should keep reporting on Douglas Frasers version of journalism. he's constantly attacking the scottish Governments efforts on the economy. Whilst giving full unquestioning publicity on every think tanks scare stories on the Scottish economy.
It's as if his brief is to destroy confidence in the Scottish economy.
should keep reporting on Douglas Frasers version of journalism. he's constantly attacking the scottish Governments efforts on the economy. Whilst giving full unquestioning publicity on every think tanks scare stories on the Scottish economy.
It's as if his brief is to destroy confidence in the Scottish economy.
#
2012-07-12 11:02
Quoting Clydebuilt:
Of course that,s his brief, along with almost all Scottish media. And before I,m accused of paranoia, just read, if you can, the headline in today,s Daily Record which is about as misleading as you can get. It,s only when you read the full report from PwC that we learn that Scotland is still the third most properous area of the U.K, just behind London and the South-East of England, so no surprise there, but will they lead with that headline. No chance. As I have warned before this type of news manipulation will continue unabated until the referendum, and the main casualty will of course be the truth. So get used to it and try to rebuff their falsehoods by any means possible.
good article
should keep reporting on Douglas Frasers version of journalism. he's constantly attacking the scottish Governments efforts on the economy. Whilst giving full unquestioning publicity on every think tanks scare stories on the Scottish economy.
It's as if his brief is to destroy confidence in the Scottish economy.
Of course that,s his brief, along with almost all Scottish media. And before I,m accused of paranoia, just read, if you can, the headline in today,s Daily Record which is about as misleading as you can get. It,s only when you read the full report from PwC that we learn that Scotland is still the third most properous area of the U.K, just behind London and the South-East of England, so no surprise there, but will they lead with that headline. No chance. As I have warned before this type of news manipulation will continue unabated until the referendum, and the main casualty will of course be the truth. So get used to it and try to rebuff their falsehoods by any means possible.
#
2012-07-12 10:53
It's always a tad suspect when reference is made to the "SNP Government" and not the Scottish Government.
Clydebuilt is also right to point up the fact that what emerges from the Fraser of Allan Institute or the CBI or the inner reaches of Mrs McGulferries anti-SNP, kitchen table, think tankers is left in blissful peace by our intrepid investigative journos, but, when it comes from an SNP source, boy-oh- boy, don't they get stuck in with aggressive spin and misinformation and when that's not doing the trick - they simply tell porkies!
Still waiting to see Brian Taylor and Iain Gray's infamous piece of paper, btw.
Chancers, all! Don't they know that people are questioning their performance, do they care and who's minding the shop when they come away with such trash?
Clydebuilt is also right to point up the fact that what emerges from the Fraser of Allan Institute or the CBI or the inner reaches of Mrs McGulferries anti-SNP, kitchen table, think tankers is left in blissful peace by our intrepid investigative journos, but, when it comes from an SNP source, boy-oh- boy, don't they get stuck in with aggressive spin and misinformation and when that's not doing the trick - they simply tell porkies!
Still waiting to see Brian Taylor and Iain Gray's infamous piece of paper, btw.
Chancers, all! Don't they know that people are questioning their performance, do they care and who's minding the shop when they come away with such trash?
#
2012-07-12 11:14
“It all depends on what your starting Quote:
Is a saving somehow less of a saving if it relates to one form of expenditure rather than another? Is it not to be expected that the earliest savings will be made in those areas where economies are most readily realised, such as administration, rather than on established contracts which may be well nigh impossible to renegotiate?
Everything about Fraser's article speaks of a rather desperate effort to spin a Scottish Government success into yet another gobbet of anti-SNP propaganda.
point is and an awful lot of the savings they’ve claimed in past years has come from the very expensive rate of employing private sector consultants."
Is a saving somehow less of a saving if it relates to one form of expenditure rather than another? Is it not to be expected that the earliest savings will be made in those areas where economies are most readily realised, such as administration, rather than on established contracts which may be well nigh impossible to renegotiate?
Everything about Fraser's article speaks of a rather desperate effort to spin a Scottish Government success into yet another gobbet of anti-SNP propaganda.
#
2012-07-12 11:30
# alexb
"It,s only when you read the full report from PwC that we learn that Scotland is still the third most properous area of the U.K, just behind London and the South-East of England"
Should we be comparing London and the SE with the whole of Scotland, urban and rural. Why does nobody compare London and the SE with say Edinburgh and Aberdeenshire, that would be comparing like for like, could be interesting.
"It,s only when you read the full report from PwC that we learn that Scotland is still the third most properous area of the U.K, just behind London and the South-East of England"
Should we be comparing London and the SE with the whole of Scotland, urban and rural. Why does nobody compare London and the SE with say Edinburgh and Aberdeenshire, that would be comparing like for like, could be interesting.
#
2012-07-12 19:19
Quoting lozzie:
No one makes this comparison because Westminister money is pumped in to London in a way that is not repeated anywhere else on this island.
The economic policy of the Westminister government is tailored to suit London & SE.ONLY.
London is a capital city as is Edinburgh.
there are more letters in Edinburgh.
thet's the only comparison you can make.
# alexb
Why does nobody compare London and the SE with say Edinburgh and Aberdeenshire, that would be comparing like for like, could be interesting.
No one makes this comparison because Westminister money is pumped in to London in a way that is not repeated anywhere else on this island.
The economic policy of the Westminister government is tailored to suit London & SE.ONLY.
London is a capital city as is Edinburgh.
there are more letters in Edinburgh.
thet's the only comparison you can make.
#
2012-07-12 11:50
Blair Jenkins thinks there's no bias at BBC Scotland!
That should be good enough for anybody.
That should be good enough for anybody.
#
2012-07-12 14:35
The Yes campaign is to be remorselessly positive, and that seem a reasonable idea to me.
It is for others to expose the BBC et al. .. for now.
It is for others to expose the BBC et al. .. for now.
#
2012-07-12 12:48
Douglas Frazer couldnae reckon up his shopping list. Has he detailed chapter and verse where the figures have been fiddled. No, it’s just vague allegations. His view or Grant Thornton’s and the LSE – who would you pick? The BBC are making absolute fools of themselves carrying on like this.
I don’t listen to them any more. Vote ‘YES’.
I don’t listen to them any more. Vote ‘YES’.
#
2012-07-12 13:53
Is this not just desperate
insisting all things done by SG are suspect!
While at the same time spinning anything that could be a good result into something much less.
To quote him he figures.
“It all depends on what your starting point is and an awful lot of the savings they’ve claimed in past years has come from the very expensive rate of employing private sector consultants."
Eh? When is a saving not a saving ?
Regardless of where it comes from. Not only is he suggesting the SFT could be lying , although they are legitimate, and validated by The London School of economics, and Grant Thornton Accountants!
I suggest Mr Fraser join the labour financial team, I am sure they would understand his way of strange thinking.
He should stay in the shallows where he belongs and out of the deep water.
insisting all things done by SG are suspect!
While at the same time spinning anything that could be a good result into something much less.
To quote him he figures.
“It all depends on what your starting point is and an awful lot of the savings they’ve claimed in past years has come from the very expensive rate of employing private sector consultants."
Eh? When is a saving not a saving ?
Regardless of where it comes from. Not only is he suggesting the SFT could be lying , although they are legitimate, and validated by The London School of economics, and Grant Thornton Accountants!
I suggest Mr Fraser join the labour financial team, I am sure they would understand his way of strange thinking.
He should stay in the shallows where he belongs and out of the deep water.
#
2012-07-12 14:20
Slightly O/T
Our wondeful media continues to state with great regularity that the Hall's factory is losing £79,000 per day whereas it has been made perfectly clear on several occasions that the figure applies to The Vion Group as a whole.
The threatened closure is a repeat of the old old story which has been repeated ad nauseam of an English or Foreign company taking over a Scottish company often a competitor then waiting a couple of years before closing the Scottish operation and moving production to England.
What a grand thing The Union Dividend is.
Our wondeful media continues to state with great regularity that the Hall's factory is losing £79,000 per day whereas it has been made perfectly clear on several occasions that the figure applies to The Vion Group as a whole.
The threatened closure is a repeat of the old old story which has been repeated ad nauseam of an English or Foreign company taking over a Scottish company often a competitor then waiting a couple of years before closing the Scottish operation and moving production to England.
What a grand thing The Union Dividend is.
#
2012-07-12 14:33
I think that garbage like this will be challenged by Blair Jenkins at the highest level. They had better be very careful with explanations.
#
2012-07-12 14:50
Fraser is inconsistent with his British *** tendencies ;) yes I said it! . For example I find myself posting a link to this: bbc.co.uk/.../... (Energy's copper bottom future) which is a positive story about renewable energy and how the solution to those low wind days is being developed.
Edited by NNS Mod Team
Edited by NNS Mod Team
#
2012-07-12 15:15
The reported savings accrued from the Scottish Futures Trust is probably only the tip of the iceberg, because surely if it has sunk a nail in the coffin of the LabourCon PFI scam, the savings are immense and incalculable.
#
2012-07-12 15:42
Where are the comments on BBC Scotland Business Editor Douglas Fraser's articles? :---
bbc.co.uk/.../douglasfraser
Robert Peston UK Business Editor is awash with them:---
www.bbc.co.uk/.../robertpeston
bbc.co.uk/.../douglasfraser
Robert Peston UK Business Editor is awash with them:---
www.bbc.co.uk/.../robertpeston
#
2012-07-13 12:27
For me this is the most damming part and one I had failed to notice before, so thanks for drawing my attention to it. The basic right to reply or question reports does appear to be absent from sections which is more than a little curious as the BBC are always at pains to point out their unbiased stance as a public body. Is odd how Robert Peston can have comments to his articles but Brian Taylor and Douglas Fraser do not, are they regarded as lesser beings or Journalists than Mr Peston, or is the subject matter that requires control of information and its presentation? It looks a little worrying to me.
#
2012-07-12 16:29
Isn't it intriguing that with Labour out of power in Scotland, their broadcasting arm at Pacific Quay remain utterly loyal?
Labour, unionist and BBC influence is so all pervasive in this country that even alleged independence supporters will write in their blogs without blushing that Johann Lamont has given another powerful performance.
Obviously only a fully fledged "cybernat" could find her weekly insults, her tiresome "as a mother" narrative and her pig headed oppositionism, ridiculous, ineffective and embarrasing.
The "acceptable" face of the independence supporting blogosphere has to keep the likes of Aidan Skinner, Tom Harris, Duncan Hothersall etc on side by demonstrating they can appreciate our Johann and her myriad qualities.
They can then get a wee pat on the head and a tacit acknowledgement that they're not like the other independence supporters.
You see no-one likes to be an outsider and independence supporters are outsiders in Scotland. If you don't play the Labour game you're right out of the loop and doomed to exist in the land of the "unthinking cybernat".
The "unthinking cybernat" is of course merely someone who disagrees with a unionist and can argue their case well enough to make said unionist look a bit daft.
Labour, unionist and BBC influence is so all pervasive in this country that even alleged independence supporters will write in their blogs without blushing that Johann Lamont has given another powerful performance.
Obviously only a fully fledged "cybernat" could find her weekly insults, her tiresome "as a mother" narrative and her pig headed oppositionism, ridiculous, ineffective and embarrasing.
The "acceptable" face of the independence supporting blogosphere has to keep the likes of Aidan Skinner, Tom Harris, Duncan Hothersall etc on side by demonstrating they can appreciate our Johann and her myriad qualities.
They can then get a wee pat on the head and a tacit acknowledgement that they're not like the other independence supporters.
You see no-one likes to be an outsider and independence supporters are outsiders in Scotland. If you don't play the Labour game you're right out of the loop and doomed to exist in the land of the "unthinking cybernat".
The "unthinking cybernat" is of course merely someone who disagrees with a unionist and can argue their case well enough to make said unionist look a bit daft.
#
2012-07-12 17:34
You could almost detect the glee in Sally Magnusson's voice this lunchtime when she announced the 'no growth' forecast for Scotland's economy. When will the Fraser of Allander Institute come up with its next politicised misrepresentati on?
BBC Scotland should review the service they get from their presenters as many of them are below par. Last night's effort on Newsnight Scotland was an affront. I wonder what the suitability criteria for the appointment of some of them are, because it seems there are either gross errors being made or there are other underlying reasons for the appointments?
BBC Scotland should review the service they get from their presenters as many of them are below par. Last night's effort on Newsnight Scotland was an affront. I wonder what the suitability criteria for the appointment of some of them are, because it seems there are either gross errors being made or there are other underlying reasons for the appointments?
#
2012-07-12 22:00
"Health experts have warned homeowners to protect their homes against 'huge numbers' of rats flushed out of sewers by the heavy rain and floods drenching the country."
ibtimes.co.uk/.../...
A BBC Scotland source says: "Oh, no. Not again."
ibtimes.co.uk/.../...
A BBC Scotland source says: "Oh, no. Not again."
#
2012-07-13 09:32
How the media manipulate the facts. Australian journalist, author, film maker John Pilger speaks about global media consolidation, war by journalism, US military's quest for domination/hegemony in the post 9/11 era, false history in the guise of 'objective' journalism.
video.google.com/.../.
Excellent stuff, and a warning of what awaits the Yes campaign.
video.google.com/.../.
Excellent stuff, and a warning of what awaits the Yes campaign.
#
2012-07-15 07:55
Thanks for that - a must listen for all with an interest in how world events have been distorted.
#
2012-07-13 12:44
Can someone explain something to me.
In referance to this sentance "In a report for Radio Scotland Mr Fraser appeared to play down the success of the SFT, repeatedly drawing attention to what he claimed was a lack of success in tackling the excessive profits of PFI contracts – one of the key aims of the body set up by the SNP."
Now, I can only assume that these PFI contracts have been a bit of a disaster all over the UK, but what I do not understand is why they cannot be terminated? If a contract is so unfair and against the public interest, surely then that contract could be challenged or the persons who negotiated the terms of the contract on behalf of the public could be at least investigated as there may well be a fraud involved?
There seems to be a lot of impunity going around these days. Yet any screw-ups I have made in my life, I have paid heavily for and I think that I would quite like some of this impunity stuff too. Either that or all wrong doers should be treated as equals.
In referance to this sentance "In a report for Radio Scotland Mr Fraser appeared to play down the success of the SFT, repeatedly drawing attention to what he claimed was a lack of success in tackling the excessive profits of PFI contracts – one of the key aims of the body set up by the SNP."
Now, I can only assume that these PFI contracts have been a bit of a disaster all over the UK, but what I do not understand is why they cannot be terminated? If a contract is so unfair and against the public interest, surely then that contract could be challenged or the persons who negotiated the terms of the contract on behalf of the public could be at least investigated as there may well be a fraud involved?
There seems to be a lot of impunity going around these days. Yet any screw-ups I have made in my life, I have paid heavily for and I think that I would quite like some of this impunity stuff too. Either that or all wrong doers should be treated as equals.
#
2012-07-13 14:37
I think this posting of John Pillinger is excellent and gives insight on how governments spin everything they want with the help of the media, and yes! including the BBC!LINK-
video.google.com/.../
video.google.com/.../
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