Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson MSP uses inauguration lecture to propose reorganisation of service delivery

North MSP Dave Thompson has formally been appointed as Vice-President of the UK Trading Standards Institute at a ceremony during the organisation's UK conference in Edinburgh.

After a ceremony to mark his appointment as Vice-President, the Scottish National MSP was asked to deliver a lecture to the annual conference at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on Thursday afternoon.

Mr Thompson used this opportunity to highlight the current decline in importance given to Trading Standards by many local authorities and to propose a new way of delivering its important public safety and consumer protection services.

Following a restructuring of local government in 1996, Trading Standards officers report to Scotland's 32 local authorities but many in the profession feel this has resulted in a major reduction in service and variation across the country.

In his speech at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Mr Thompson proposed that a solution to this could be to concentrate the delivery of the Trading Standards service in a smaller number of regional groups or even a single national Scottish service.

Addressing delegates at the conference, Mr Thompson said: "Trading Standards is a small profession, too small to be spread between 32 local authorities in Scotland. I believe, the only way to restore it to robust health is to have fewer authorities, and we must look at innovative ways of doing that.

"Why not look at local Police and Fire Boards as the most appropriate authorities to which Trading Standards should report? They are a Local Government Protective Service, as is Trading Standards, and would give you the economies of scale and ability to specialise which is essential if you are get back to the Gold Standard days which existed prior to 1996, before decline set in.

"Or what about a Scottish service? Something I have long advocated."

Mr Thompson also urged the latest generation of Trading Standards officers to maintain a questioning approach to their duties and advised that this, combined with hard work and a willingness to seize opportunities, would assist them in developing their careers and would help to secure a bright future for the service.

Note:

News of the elevation of Mr Thompson, a former director of Trading Standards at Highland Council, to the prestigious post was initially revealed at the Institute's Scottish conference in Inverness in November.