Meeting of the Parliament
Meeting date: Thursday, February 10, 2011
Official Report
1167KB pdf
Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People
Good morning. The first item of business is consideration of three Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body motions, S3M-7904 to S3M-7906 inclusive, in the name of Mike Pringle, on the reappointment of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner and Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People.
09:00
I speak in support of the SPCB’s three motions, which nominate office holders for reappointment. In advance of this short debate, the SPCB lodged a report in the Scottish Parliament information centre—it is also available on the Parliament’s website—regarding the reappointment of each office holder. Although the office holders’ terms in office do not end until April and May this year, we are bringing forward the motions now for the obvious reason that the Parliament will shortly be dissolved.
I turn to the reappointment process. Each office holder has been subject to independent evaluation based on a number of set criteria, including fulfilling the functions of the post, communication, leadership and motivational skills. That was followed by a formal interview with the SPCB.
It is the unanimous view of the SPCB that Jim Martin is the right person for the role of Scottish Public Services Ombudsman. We consider that he has brought about visible and sustained improvements to the case load management of the office. His regular commentaries demonstrate recommendations for public authorities to make improvements to their processes where that is appropriate. He has also introduced a quality assurance process that we believe will continue to drive up the standards that he wants.
Of course, the SPCB is aware that some members have not always agreed with the ombudsman’s decisions, and we received some unsolicited representations about the reappointment of Jim Martin. The Parliament has given the ombudsman the independence to make decisions, and in doing so he is not under our direction or control at all. As with ombudsmen around the world, not all parties will be satisfied all the time. That is simply not possible, given the nature of the job. However, we believe that Mr Martin is the right person and that during his next six-year term in office he will continue to build on the considerable improvements that he has already made in his office.
We are also seeking the Parliament’s support for the reappointment of Tam Baillie as the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland for a period of six years. Many members will be aware of Mr Baillie, given the number of appearances that he has made before a variety of parliamentary committees.
Mr Baillie has taken a different approach to his role from his predecessor, placing a greater emphasis on personal engagement with children and young people. We are aware from a small number of representations that not everybody agrees with the commissioner’s approach. Nevertheless, we believe that it is the role of the commissioner to direct his organisation in the way that he sees fit, provided that it is for the benefit of children and young people in Scotland, and we are nominating Tam Baillie to continue the work that he has started and very much wants to continue.
Finally, it is the SPCB’s role to appoint a Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, but any appointment has to be endorsed by the Parliament. We are therefore seeking the Parliament’s agreement to the reappointment of Stuart Allan for a second term.
I move,
That the Parliament nominates Jim Martin to Her Majesty The Queen for reappointment for a second term as the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman from 1 May 2011.
That the Parliament agrees with the recommendation of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body under Rule 3A.1.2 of Standing Orders that Stuart Allan be reappointed for a second term as the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner from 31 March 2011.
That the Parliament nominates Tam Baillie to Her Majesty The Queen for re-appointment for a second term as the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland from 18 May 2011.
Mr Johnstone, do you wish to speak?
No. [Laughter.]
It is just that a little birdie told me that that might be the case.
As no one else wishes to speak, that concludes the debate on the SPCB’s reappointment motions.