Blaming the Victim?: Local Government Reform and Scottish Social Work

The origins, objectives and process of Scottish local government reorganisation have been widely discussed (Midwinter 1993; Lang 1994; Black 1995; Boyne et al 1995; Fairley 1995). The Scottish reform process (directed by the Secretary of State) and its outcomes (comprehensive unitary coverage) were far closer to those in Wales than in England, reorganisation in the latter (concluded in April 1998) being shaped by the work of an armslength Local Government Commission, and leading to a 'patchwork quilt' of English authorities of widely differing sizes and functions. However, reform in all three nations, to summarise the views of commentators, was characterised (to differing degrees) by policy confusion, shifts in emphasis, political horse-trading, local government division and, latterly, central government attempts at damage limitation (Craig and Manthorpe 1996).