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With regard to the ethical standards in public life bill, I have suggested that we take evidence from COSLA, SOLACE, which is the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and General Managers, SOLAR, which is the Society of Local Authority Lawyers and Administrators in Scotland, and Unison. We could add the ombudsman to that list.
Why is Unison on the list? Why not the Scottish Trades Union Congress or a group of local public service trade unions?
That was just because Unison is the biggest union.
They are not the only one.
Would you rather the STUC represented them?
There are different levels of trade union organisations in local government. It might be easier to get the STUC to represent them or to get a delegation of two or three senior trade union representatives.
Fine, I have no problem with that.
There is a trade union of health board boss people that might help. The quango issue is important. There may be a similar organisation in relation to enterprise boards.
Enterprise boards are part of LECs and they are not included in the bill. That is a matter of company law.
I think that they should be included, but that is a different issue.
You are expanding this into a whole day. I have no problem with that.
What about the Accounts Commission?
We had better see how long it would take us. I will add the Accounts Commission to the list. Do members want me to ask an ombudsman to tell us what their role would be?
Yes.
We will also get representations from unions rather than from a particular union.
It may be that written evidence will be adequate.
Yes.
I take it that the minister will also be asked to come along to give evidence at some point. Would that be appropriate, for the purposes of clarification?
We can leave that open.
Yes.
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