I wouldn't say that Scotland is the Guinea Pig of the UK. I remember the Poll tax, was just a kid though.
Here is irony though. Many of teh scots I know think that the poll tax is a fairer tax than the council tax. Mind you these are people who are either single or don't have kids and all that.
Besides since we have that thing called a parliament the scottish MPs can try stuff out on Scotland themselves.
STEED was it you who posted the link about primary school kids being fingerprinted for library cards?
You'll love this link
http://www.leavethemkidsalone.com/