8 October 2007

Former FM special adviser to give `view from the inside'

Adrian Colwell, a former special adviser to Jack McConnell during his years as First Minister, will give `a view from the inside’ of government when he delivers a research seminar at the University of Dundee this week.

Mr Colwell spent over five years as a Special Adviser to Mr McConnell in the Scottish Parliament and played a key role in creating and shaping the policy priorities pursued between 2003 and 2007.

He is visiting the University to give a research seminar to Town and Regional Planning students. In the seminar, titled `A View From The Inside: Planning For A New Scotland’, he will review how policy is formed in the Scottish Government, with particular reference to the areas he worked upon - physical development and public finance.

He will also discuss some of the policy choices set to arise over the next four years as Scottish devolution moves forward into a new phase.

"Adrian Colwell is someone with very recent experience of how planning shapes policy at the highest level of Government and we are delighted that he is taking the time to come and speak to our students," said Tony Jackson, senior lecturer in Town and Regional Planning.

"This research seminar should be of interest both to academics and students in planning and related political and social sciences and humanities, as well as to a wide range of public and private sector policy-makers."

The seminar takes place on Wednesday October 10th at 3 pm, in the Matthew Building at the University.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Adrian Colwell is Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the European Policies Research Centre, located in the Business School at Strathclyde University, and also acts as an independent policy consultant. He currently serves as a member of the Scottish Executive’s National Planning Framework Steering Group.

Adrian was previously Special Adviser to the First Minister of the Scottish Parliament between Feb 2002 and May 2007. In this capacity he was responsible for policy advice to the First Minister and his ministerial team on planning, housing, regeneration and transport issues. He also dealt with finance, local government and public sector reform during the five years of this appointment.

Adrian has an extensive background in policy and legislative analysis, strategy development and implementation. He has worked in the US Congress, UK Parliament and the European Parliament. He has also worked for COSLA and a number of local authorities in England and Scotland.

Adrian has given evidence to Committees of the Scottish and European Parliaments, House of Commons and the House of Lords. He has also lectured and published widely on regional policy, regeneration, European and environmental matters.

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