Education ministers, it goes without saying, are well served by their excellent civil servants. One who has been particularly well prepared for the rigours of the Scottish Executive is Geoff Huggins, who is looking after the Education Bill.
Huggins has been doing the rounds of council chambers telling local authorities what the Bill really means. He’s no stranger to fine print: he came to the job fresh from helping to shape the Good Friday agreement while he was at the Northern Ireland Office.
As one who specialised in the release of political prisoners, perhaps even more fertile soil awaits for him to plant his many-sided talents. Step forward the Scottish Joint Negotiating Committee.