Retired civil servant, mainly in the Scottish Office, working as a professional economist 1970-1985 and then as a senior civil servant 1985-2003 when he advised Ministers on housing, rural development, and natural heritage policy issues. His final post was as Registrar General for Scotland (1999-2003), during which time he oversaw the 2001 Census in Scotland. Now living in Lewis where he has been involved in several community projects and is a member of the Scottish Currency Group.