Meeting of the Parliament 31 October 2024
In the absence of the convener, and as deputy convener, I am opening today’s debate on behalf of the Finance and Public Administration Committee on our “Report on Scotland’s Commissioner Landscape: A Strategic Approach”. I commend the report to Parliament.
We launched the inquiry in December 2023, prompted by concerns that the landscape of Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body-supported bodies could almost double in size by the end of the parliamentary session, with clear implications for the SPCB and the overall Scottish budget. The purpose of the inquiry was to establish the extent to which a more coherent and strategic approach to creating and developing SPCB-supported bodies is needed and, if so, how that might be achieved.
Although our inquiry did not extend to looking at the structure around Scottish Government commissions or commissioners, we recognise that our findings could be used to set the tone for its wider review of that public body landscape. We held seven evidence sessions, hearing from all seven existing office-holders, committee conveners, legal and public administration experts, advocacy and support groups, the SPCB and the Minister for Public Finance. We also held two insightful informal sessions, in which we explored the experiences of former commissioners and ombudsmen and former MSPs who had submitted proposals to create commissioners in previous sessions of Parliament. We thank all those who gave up their time to speak with us. Their evidence, along with research on United Kingdom and international models, including those in Wales and New Zealand, helped to shape our findings.
As our report shows, we have not taken a view on the merits—or otherwise—of individual SPCB-supported bodies. I reassure all members that taking such judgments was not within the remit of our inquiry, nor would we wish it to be. We found the current office-holders to be a dedicated group of people who are committed to serving Scotland in the public interest.
It is also important to be clear that our report does not seek to prevent other proposals to create commissioners from ever coming forward. We have concluded, however, that now is the time to establish a model in which current and future office-holders can operate effectively and coherently, and which is structured in a way that delivers the best outcomes and value for money for the people of Scotland.