Overpaid Public Servants and EuroMillions

Is there no end to the money going into the wallets of certain “fat cats” north of the border? Dr Robert Masterton, executive medical director of NHS Ayrshire and Arran, with a salary of around £240,000, is the second highest paid public servant in Scotland – his wage is actually more than a fifth higher than Gordon Brown’s since being increased by more than 20% in 2 years. This, despite the fact that his board have unveiled plans for a 2% budget cut, leading to patient care being undermined, and also the fact that there had been 356 pest infestations in the board’s hospitals in a year – presumably the bugs took a holiday for 9 days. Why not, indeed?

I see that the chairman of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), councillor Alistair Watson, has stepped down amid growing controversy concerning senior executives’ expenses. He is said to be leaving because of health reasons, but the timing coincides with a complaint to Audit Scotland, asking for an examination into claims totalling £117,573 made by SPT officials over the past three years, including £49,195 spent on overseas trips. A total of £1,700 was claimed for meals, travel, and accommodation after officials travelled to Manchester in May 2008 which coincided with the UEFA Cup Final between Rangers and Zenit St Petersburg. Their other jaunts have taken them to China, America, Singapore, Russia, Spain, Germany, Italy, and India. I would imagine that they travelled to the last two countries mentioned in order to study their gondola and rickshaw systems, and maybe introduce them to the Glasgow masses.

Meanwhile, the health and safety cowboys are at it again. At the end of December, during the very cold spell, firefighters from Kilmarnock and Ayr were called out to try and rescue a dog that was trapped on ice on a partially frozen pond. The commander at Kilmarnock Fire Station, Stevie Logan, finally managed to rescue the dog by getting hold of a canoe and paddling out to it. There is now an investigation into his conduct, as it seems that he broke Strathclyde Fire and Rescue guidelines by putting himself unnecessarily at risk. What is he and his colleagues meant to do the next time they’re called out to deal with a huge fire – stand by and watch? The mind boggles.

Now to another tale concerning finances, but a much happier one this time. I heard on Saturday that a couple from Britain had won 56 million pounds and 20 pence in the EuroMillions draw on Friday night. I wonder if they will check the 20 pence piece to see if it’s an undated one, worth £50. Anyway, they have now been paraded on telly, informing the nation of what they’ll be spending some of the dosh on. A new car and house, certainly, plus a Shetland pony and a tarantula. A new garden will be a must for the pony, of course, presumably with a sign on the gate bearing the legend, “Beware Of The Spider”.