- Home
- About
- News
- Back to News listing
- Finance and Public Administration Committee announces inquiry into Scotland’s Commissioners
Finance and Public Administration Committee announces inquiry into Scotland’s Commissioners
15 December 2023
Holyrood’s Finance and Public Administration Committee will investigate whether a more “coherent and strategic approach” is needed for the creation of any further commissioners.
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 this five-year session of Parliament.
Finance and Public Administration Committee Convener Kenneth Gibson said:
“Seven commissioners cost £16.6m, according to budget figures for 2023/24. 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.
“Our committee believes this inquiry is both timely and necessary.”
Mr Gibson added:
“The Scottish Government has already stated there is very little published research on commissioners in Scotland - or the UK - and little evaluation exploring their pros and cons, powers or ways of working.
“Our committee will therefore investigate whether a more coherent and strategic approach is needed for the creation of such commissioners in Scotland.”
Background
The committee will launch a call for views in January. 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
Public information
- Telephone enquiry line: 0800 092 7500 or 0131 348 5395 (Gàidhlig)
- [email protected]
- Text 07786 209 888
- Calls through contactSCOTLAND-BSL for British Sign Language are welcome
Follow The Scottish Parliament on Twitter
Keep up to date with the Committee on Twitter