MSPs urged to vote for a halt on creating new commissioners in Scotland

MSPs are being urged to vote for a moratorium on the creation of new commissioners for Scotland.

Kenneth Gibson, the convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Public Administration Committee, said the “trend” for such appointments was “not sustainable, especially at a time of significant pressure on public finances in Scotland”.

There are currently seven independent commissioners working in Scotland, with approval having already been given for a new Patient Safety Commissioner to be established.

With the Finance Committee having already called for a moratorium on commissioner-style bodies, Mr Gibson said MSPs on the committee believed the funding that would be needed for this “would be better spent on improving the delivery of local public services, where greater impact can be made”.

His comments came after a report from the committee insisted a “root and branch” review is needed before any more commissioner-style bodies are created, or the powers of existing ones are expanded.

Current bodies include the Standards Commission for Scotland, the Scottish Information Commissioner, the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman and the Scottish Human Rights Commission.

But Mr Gibson insisted that “now is the time to pause and take stock”.

With MSPs due to vote on a possible moratorium on Thursday, Mr Gibson stressed the committee’s inquiry was “not about the merits, or otherwise” of the existing post holders, whom he described as a “dedicated group of people with a common purpose to serve Scotland in the public interest”.

But he said scrutiny by MSPs had suggested the “recent proliferation” of such posts “appears primarily to have been driven by perceived failures in public service delivery, or to bring prominence to certain issues or policies”.

He also said the “lack of a clear overarching plan” in the establishment of commissioners had “led to a fragmented landscape of individual bodies with varying functions and powers”.

Mr Gibson continued: “There is also evidence of duplication and overlap between existing Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) supported bodies and other public bodies in Scotland.”

He stated: “Before any further bodies are added to the mix, we must first design a coherent structure, which enables improved accountability, scrutiny, and value for money. The review must also establish effective delivery mechanisms and measurement of outcomes.

“On Thursday, we will therefore ask Parliament to vote and agree a moratorium on creating any new bodies, or expanding the remit of existing ones, until this root and branch review of the structure is carried out.”