Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland

The Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland is an ombudsman in Scotland with the responsibility for investigating complaints about Members of the Scottish Parliament, councillors of the 32 Councils of Scotland, and members of Scottish public bodies. The Commissioner also monitors the appointment of members of specified public bodies in Scotland by the Scottish Ministers.

Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
Incumbent
Caroline Anderson
since 1 April 2019
TypeOmbudsman
SeatEdinburgh
NominatorScottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
AppointerScottish Parliament
Term length5 years
Constituting instrumentPublic Services Reform (Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland etc.) Order 2013
PrecursorPublic Standards Commissioner & Public Appointments Commissioner
Formation1 July 2013 (1 July 2013)
First holderD Stuart Allan
Salary£73,000
Websiteethicalstandards.org.uk

History

The post was created by the Public Services Reform (Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland etc.) Order 2013, legislation which came into force on 1 July 2013.[1] Prior to that there were separate pieces of legislation to deal with complaints and investigations. The Commissioner's role in public standards is legislated for in the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000, Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Act 2002 and the Public Appointsments and Public Bodies etc. (Scotland) act 2003.[2][1]

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has a statutory responsibility for appointment of the Commissioner, with the agreement of the Scottish Parliament.[3]

On 29 January 2019, Parliament approved the appointment of Caroline Anderson as Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland, to take up the full-time post for a fixed term of 5 years from 1 April 2019, with a salary of £73,000.[4] Ms Anderson is a chartered accountant with over 20 years of specialist experience in regulation and compliance, gained mainly within professional services environments. She succeeds Bill Thomson CBE.

Remit and jurisdiction

The Commissioner and his team work in two areas:[5]

  • Public standards – investigating complaints about the conduct of Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), local authority councillors and members of public bodies
  • Public appointments – regulating how people are appointed to the boards of public bodies

References
  1. Scottish Parliament. The Public Services Reform (Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland etc.) Order 2013 as made, from legislation.gov.uk.
  2. "CESPLS Legislative Background" (PDF). Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland. 17 November 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  3. "About the Parliament: Corporate Governance: Officeholders". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  4. https://www.parliament.scot/newsandmediacentre/110882.aspx
  5. "Topics: Public Sector: Local Government: Accountability and standards: Ethical Standards in Public Life: Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life". Scottish Government. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
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