THE National Museums of Scotland was created in 1985 by the merging of the Royal Scottish Museum and the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland. The charitable organisation operates five museums: the National Museum of Scotland; the National War Museum at Edinburgh Castle; the National Museum of Flight, at East Fortune in East Lothian; the National Museum of Rural Life in East Kilbride and the National Museum of Costume in Dumfries.

It is charged with maintaining the collections in each of the institutions as well as marketing the museums to the public and undertaking educational work and scientific research. In 2008-9, the organisation received £37.4 million from the Scottish Government to carry out its work, and Reform Scotland points out that the body's aims are now tied into 15 national "outcomes" laid down by ministers. The think-tank says NMS would benefit from being removed from its current "no-mans-land".

This would see it made independent of government influence over its policy. Instead, the NMS management would negotiate a settlement with the Scottish Government at regular intervals. The negotiations would see NMS and ministers agree on what services the body was expected to deliver in return for the money, with performance reviewed at the end of a contract period.

This, Reform Scotland insists, would also allow NMS to borrow money – something it is not permitted to do at present. The report concedes that certain restrictions would need to be placed on the service contract to prevent museums being sold off to raise money in times of crisis.