Question reference: S5W-22748
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Date lodged: 23 April 2019
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Current status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 8 May 2019
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-22404 by Derek Mackay on 18 April 2019, for what reason it will not place the documents in SPICe, and what its position is on whether this decision is consistent with (a) its commitment in the Ministerial Code to act and take "decisions in an open and transparent manner" and the First Minister's comment in the foreword to "lead by example in following the letter and spirit of this Code, and [that she expects] that Ministers and civil servants will do likewise" and (b) the principles set out in its document, Open Government in Scotland Action Plan 2018-2020, which it published in partnership with the Scotland Civil Society Open Government Network.
Answer
Non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) are required to operate within the terms of the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM) which sets out specific arrangements for financial control, internal and external and internal audit arrangements and effective risk management procedures. Our NDPBs will prepare, maintain and hold ownership of their contingency risk plans in line with the guidance in the SPFM and their individual framework document. The Scottish Government does not have ownership of these plans and it would be for each individual NDPB, (if asked) to decide whether they would lay their plans in SPICe. It is not for the Scottish Government to lay these plans in SPICe. In overseeing the work of public bodies including our NDPBs, the Scottish Government will always seek to promote and to help create a culture of openness and transparency across the landscape. As part of our Scottish Open Government Action Plan we are committed to working with others to ensure government is transparent, accountable, and responsive.