AN honours graduate of the Margaret Thatcher meets Dr Edward de Bono school of lateral thinking this week proposed the ultimate in state selloffs - the privatisation of an entire country. Robert Whelan, from the British Institute of Economic Affairs, offering his thoughts on reforming the economic and political malaise in certain areas of the dark continent suggests that multinationals or groups of companies should be invited to bid for the rights to run countries. "Foreign aid has created too many wealthy dictators for us to have any high expectations of what can be achieved by making cash grants to Africa," he contends.

Dr Whelan argues that private enterprise could create a workable economic and legislative system with companies pledged to provide specific services, a service payable from achieving agreed growth national targets.

A riveting concept with applications beyond the Third World. Will Ruairi Quinn instruct one of his minions to procure the full text of the article? Somehow I doubt it. With a £185 million surplus in Government finances under his belt Ruairi is now in a position to offer advice, not take it.