Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-1255, in the name of Bristow Muldoon, on behalf of the selection panel for the appointment of the commissioner for public appointments in Scotland.
I speak to S2M-1255, as a member of the selection panel. I invite members of Parliament to nominate to Her Majesty the Queen Karen Carlton as the first commissioner for public appointments in Scotland.
I will say a few words about the background and process before I turn to the proposed nomination of Karen Carlton. Following two extensive consultation exercises, the Scottish Executive introduced a bill to provide for, among other things, a commissioner for public appointments in Scotland. The Scottish Executive proposed that Scotland should have an independent commissioner, whose role and responsibilities would be similar to those of the UK commissioner, but who would modernise the appointments system and take into account distinctive Scottish needs and requirements.
The Public Appointments and Public Bodies etc (Scotland) Act 2003 was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 5 February 2003. It provides for the appointment of an independent commissioner to be nominated by Parliament for appointment by Her Majesty. It encourages diversity by providing that all appointments and recommendations for appointment be made fairly and openly and, as far as is reasonably practicable, that all categories of person be afforded the opportunity to be considered for appointment. The act requires the commissioner to consult Parliament and Scottish ministers on, and to invite other persons to make representations on, the preparation and publication of a code of practice in respect of making appointments. It also provides for the commissioner to report to Parliament when the code is breached.
The act provides for the commissioner, in consultation with Parliament and Scottish ministers, to prepare and publish a strategy to ensure that appointments and recommendations for appointments are made by Scottish ministers in a manner that encourages equal opportunities. The provisions of the 2003 act should ensure that Scotland has a public appointments process that is representative of the people of Scotland and which is truly independent, accountable and open.
I turn now to the recruitment process. Under standing orders, a selection panel that included the Parliament's Deputy Presiding Officer, Trish Godman, as chair was set up on behalf of Parliament to consider the appointment. Serving on the panel were Mark Ballard, Fergus Ewing, Johann Lamont, Brian Monteith, Mike Pringle and me. The position of commissioner was advertised through the national press and I am pleased to say that it attracted a wide range of high-quality applications. I thank Moira Rankin, who acted as independent assessor to the selection panel for ensuring that we followed good practice throughout the selection process.
I turn now to the nominee, Karen Carlton. She is a well known and respected management consultant who has, among other things, established Investors in People Scotland on behalf of Scottish Enterprise and created the Investors in People assessment and recognition framework that operates in Scotland. Karen has been an independent assessor since 2001 and brings with her experience of the current public appointments system, which is operated by the United Kingdom Commissioner for Public Appointments, Dame Rennie Fritchie.
I am sure that Karen Carlton will prove to be an effective and well-respected commissioner, who will bring to the post enthusiasm and highly relevant knowledge. I am also sure that Parliament will want to wish her every success for the future in this new and demanding role.
I move,
That the Parliament nominates Karen Carlton to Her Majesty The Queen for appointment as the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland.
We have three minutes left, which allows brief speeches from Brian Monteith and Mike Pringle.
I want merely to concur with what Bristow Muldoon said. The appointment of the commissioner is particularly important and should go a long way towards engendering faith in appointments to various bodies. For that reason, we should treat the commissioner's appointment seriously. The people who were involved in the selection process, to whom Bristow Muldoon referred, certainly took it seriously. It was interesting to see the degree of experience that the applicants had and it was very tough to go through the process and come to a conclusion. However, the committee was clearly unanimous at the end of the day about the nomination of Karen Carlton and I am pleased to support her nomination.
If you can manage to finish within two minutes, Mr Pringle, that would be helpful.
I am sure that what I say will take less time than that, Presiding Officer.
I concur with everything that Bristow Muldoon said. This was the first time that I had been involved in the Scottish Parliament in the process of appointing somebody and I was extremely impressed by the professional way in which the process was conducted. I congratulate the staff, who gave us every assistance. I was also very impressed by the field of candidates. The decision was difficult but it was unanimous, as Brian Monteith said. I congratulate Karen Carlton on being appointed as commissioner for public appointments in Scotland. I am sure that, like me, members look forward to working with her over the next few years in what is, in my view, an extremely important role.