Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 01 December 2021
Presiding Officer, public bodies are responsible for around £17 billion of public spending so it is important that we get public appointments right. I speak neither for or against the motion; I rise to share my concerns regarding the reappointment of four Scottish Land Commissioners.
Although I acknowledge that the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee recommended approval of the reappointments, I remind members that the role of the Land Commission is to stimulate fresh thinking and to change how we, as a nation, own and use land. Fresh thinking and attracting a new pool of talent on boards in Scotland is lacking. Stephen Boyle, the Auditor General for Scotland, said in September 2021:
“I referred to our audit work and evidence which confirms that board members have a strong bearing on the effectiveness of the governance of public bodies and organisational performance. I also highlighted the issue of equality and diversity and that, in my view, wider representation on boards should help progress towards a fairer and more equal society.”
The Scottish Government should consider that continuity does not bring change; the habitual practice of drawing from the same pool does not send a positive message. It does not attract new and fresh faces. It does not attract applicants from protected groups, including more women, disabled groups, young people and ethnic minorities. Furthermore, public bodies require progressive skills and knowledge to keep pace with technology and deliver on climate change targets. Therefore, I ask whether the Scottish Government believes that the culture of continuity is healthy and whether the minister is confident that the reappointments will bring the diverse representation that we seek.