Plenary,
Meeting date: Thursday, May 28, 2009
Official Report
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Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland
The next item of business is consideration of motion S3M-4250, in the name of Alex Johnstone, on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, on the reappointment of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland.
Parliament is invited to agree to the motion in my name, on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, to nominate Karen Carlton to Her Majesty the Queen for reappointment for a second term as Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland.
In lodging the motion, the corporate body has undertaken a reappointment process in accordance with the recommendations that were made by the Procedures Committee in session 2. One of those recommendations was that candidates for reappointment should be subject to an independent assessment of their performance over the term that they have just served. Accordingly, an assessment of Ms Carlton's performance was undertaken by Sir Neil McIntosh in April 2009, based on four main criteria: fulfilment of the functions of the post as set down in legislation; competent management of workload; management of staffing and budgets; and provision of a forward plan to meet anticipated challenges. Any decisions that were taken by Ms Carlton on breaches of the code were not considered as part of the assessment process, as that would not have been appropriate, given the commissioner's functional independence. The corporate body also interviewed Ms Carlton. The outcome of that interview was similar to the findings of the independent assessor. Therefore, we have no hesitation in recommending that Parliament agree to the motion.
I place on record my thanks to Sir Neil McIntosh for undertaking the independent evaluation of Ms Carlton. I also thank Louise Rose for confirming, by way of a validation certificate, that the reappointment interview that was undertaken by the corporate body, sitting as a reappointment panel, was in accordance with good practice and that the commissioner's nomination is made on merit.
Overseeing the selection of those who run many of Scotland's public bodies is an important role that involves ensuring that the process is open and transparent and that those who are selected have the relevant experience and expertise. As required by the legislation that established the post, in her first term of office Ms Carlton has developed a code of practice and an equal opportunities strategy. The code sets out the process for regulating ministerial appointments to the boards of many of Scotland's public bodies and includes guidance on the methods and practices to be employed when making such appointments. The equal opportunities strategy aims to encourage people from all walks of Scottish society to see themselves as potential board members and to apply for posts in the knowledge that their application will be welcomed and valued.
Ms Carlton has done an excellent job in establishing her office and in undertaking her statutory functions. I wish her, and her dedicated team, every success in further developing the public appointments process in Scotland.
I move,
That the Parliament nominates Karen Carlton to Her Majesty The Queen for reappointment for a second term as the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland from 1 June 2009.
The question on the motion will be put at decision time.