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- Holyrood Committee launches call for views on Scotland’s Commissioners
Holyrood Committee launches call for views on Scotland’s Commissioners
12 January 2024
The move follows an inquiry being announced by Holyrood’s Finance and Public Administration Committee in December 2023.
The committee says it will examine Scotland’s Commissioner ‘landscape’.
Scotland currently has seven commissioners directly responsible to Parliament. An eighth – the Patients Safety Commissioner – was agreed by Parliament in September 2023.
A further six commissioners have been proposed, or are being considered, that could potentially bring the total number to 14 by the end of the current five-year session at Holyrood.
Finance and Public Administration Committee Convener Kenneth Gibson said:
“Everyone recognises that Scotland faces an extremely challenging budget this year, and most likely in the years that follow.
“Given the number of commissioners in Scotland could potentially rise to 14 by the end of this parliamentary session, with all the expense that entails, our inquiry is both timely and necessary.
“We plan to examine why there has been such growth in commissioners, whether there is overlap and duplication, and whether a more coherent and strategic approach is needed for their creation.
“We want to hear from anyone with views or insights on Scotland’s approach to commissioners, and whether it represents value for money, or whether more effective models are available.”
The committee is asking ten questions in its call for views.
Respondents should note the inquiry will not examine the merits, or otherwise, of individual commissioners.
Costs
Budget figures for 2023/24 show the current seven commissioners cost £16.6 million, with a 10% increase to £18.3 million for 2024/25. Each office comes with its own staff and its own running costs. The smallest cost £0.3m and the largest £6.7m. More are being proposed, or considered, by both the government and by backbench MSPs.
Background
The call for views runs from 15 January to 11 March 2024.
Submit your views to the committee
Oral evidence will be taken in March / April. The committee’s report is expected to be published in May / June 2024.
Visit the committee’s inquiry page for more information and the full remit of its latest investigation.
Contact Details
Media information
Committee information
joanne.mcnaughton@parliament.scot
Public information
- Telephone enquiry line: 0800 092 7500 or 0131 348 5395 (Gàidhlig)
- info@parliament.scot
- Text 07786 209 888
- Calls through contactSCOTLAND-BSL for British Sign Language are welcome
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