They add a political dimension to the advice and assistance available to Ministers while reinforcing the political impartiality of the permanent Civil Service by distinguishing the source of political advice and support.7Scottish Government Special Advisers Code of Conduct 2017. (2017, March). Retrieved from <a href="https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/agreement/2017/04/special-advisers-code-of-conduct-and-model-contract/documents/code-conduct-special-advisers-pdf/code-conduct-special-advisers-pdf/govscot%3Adocument/Code%2Bof%2Bconduct%2Bfor%2Bspecial%2Badvisers.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/agreement/2017/04/special-advisers-code-of-conduct-and-model-contract/documents/code-conduct-special-advisers-pdf/code-conduct-special-advisers-pdf/govscot%3Adocument/Code%2Bof%2Bconduct%2Bfor%2Bspecial%2Badvisers.pdf</a>
According to the Civil Service Code, a civil servant is a permanent staff member who must “serve the Government, whatever its political composition, to the best of [their] ability in a way which maintains political impartiality and is in line with the requirements of the Code”.8Scottish Government Civil Service Code. (2010, November 11).