By Steve Bargeton, political editor

THE SCOTTISH Executive has signalled its intention to move more government jobs out of the Central Belt as its controversial relocation policy came under fresh attack.

Talks on moving the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council, and the Royal Fine Arts Commission for Scotland away from Edinburgh are due to get under way soon.

Deputy finance minister Tavish Scott also revealed that there are plans to locate the new single agency to deliver custodial and non-custodial sentences and the proposed National Transport Agency outwith the capital.

The Executive has come under fire for forcing Scottish Natural Heritage to move its headquarters from Edinburgh to Inverness.

And yesterday ministers were accused of “opportunism” by a former minister for plans to move more public bodies.

Former deputy social justice minister Des McNulty, now convener of the Parliament’s powerful committee, said the way the criteria were drawn up to decide where public bodies should be based discriminated against deprived areas.

“The way these criteria operate seems bizarre,” he said.

“There are a number of areas in Scotland, such as Inverclyde, Clydebank and Paisley, where we have the highest levels of unemployment, that are ruled out by the criteria that are supposed to favour deprivation.

“Opportunistic small relocations are going to make a small impact—it’s only significant relocations that are going to make a significant impact.”

Appearing before the committee, Mr Scott defended the Executive’s decision to move Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to Inverness, and the relocation policy in general.

Commenting on the fact that consultants had initially placed Inverness 24th in the list of suitable locations for the SNH headquarters, the minister said he and his colleagues were not bound by the consultants’ reports and said the final decision rested with the Executive.

“It is not an exact science and that is why I continue to argue that it is a political decision,” he said.

Responding to the new proposed relocations, Mr Scott said, “In line with the Executive’s policy of decentralisation, we have been examining the possibilities of moving public service jobs away from the capital.

“Around 1250 posts have been located or are planned to be located outside Edinburgh as a direct result of our actions over the last three years, benefiting areas from Inverness to Galashiels.

“Today’s decision to increase the number of organisations under review is further evidence of our desire to benefit communities the length and breadth of Scotland from the relocation of public sector posts.

“The Executive is committed to ensuring that government in Scotland is efficient and decentralised as part of the wider vision of more accessible, open and responsive government,” added Mr Scott.

“Relocation policy is part of this vision. It can also help us to address particular problems in certain parts of the country.

“Relocation can provide more cost- effective solutions for service delivery by allowing organisations to operate away from some of the pressures of the Edinburgh market.”