This week's key appointments

Friday, 27 August 2004 12:00 AM

With the August "silly season" in full swing and most of the UK's political operatives away on holiday, this week has been incredibly quiet on the appointments front.

All the parliaments remain in recess, and there have been no changes to the Government or opposition front benches.

Coincidentally, all the key appointments for this week have a distinctly Scottish focus.

Labour MP, and former Scottish Office Minister and Energy Minister, Brian Wilson has announced he will be standing down from Parliament in the next election.

Mr Wilson has been an MP for Cunningham North in Scotland for 18 years and was at pains to emphasise that his decision to stand down was taken for personal rather than political reasons.

Also in Scotland, John McCormick, the former BBC Scotland Controller, has been appointed as the new chair of the Scottish Qualifications Authority. The position is for four years and is held on a part-time basis.

Announcing the appointment, Scottish Education Minister Peter Peacock, said Mr McCormick was a "high calibre" chairman and his appointment "further demonstrated" that the SQA "has not only turned the corner but is an organisation looking to the future with confidence."

The SQA has been troubled in recent years after being severely criticised in 2001 for widespread inaccuracies and problems in delivering exam results. Since then, it has undergone a period of restructuring and pledged that the problems will never be repeated.

Finally, Eric Milligan, a former Lord Provost of Edinburgh, has been appointed to lead a new task force designed to review the first impressions of visitors to Scotland. Mr Milligan will report his findings to the First Minister by the end of the year having assessed the entry points into Scotland for such criteria as customer services, provision of information and the internal and external environment.

Announcing the appointment, Jack McConnell, said: "First impressions make a lasting impact; therefore every entry point to Scotland should be as welcoming as possible. We are by nature a hospitable people. Our hospitality should be clearly reflected in our ports, airports, bus and rail stations.

"We need to raise our game to match the very best in the world. Let us be proud of our country. Let us ensure that is the first impression visitors to Scotland receive."

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