Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland
| Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland | |
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Incumbent
Bill Thomson since 1 April 2014 |
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| Type | Ombudsman |
| Seat | Edinburgh |
| Nominator | Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body |
| Appointer | Scottish Parliament |
| Term length | 5 years |
| Constituting instrument | Public Services Reform (Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland etc.) Order 2013 |
| Precursor | Public Standards Commissioner & Public Appointments Commissioner |
| Formation | 1 July 2013 |
| First holder | D Stuart Allan |
| Salary | £73,000 |
| Website | www |
The Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland is an ombudsman in Scotland with the responsibility for investigating complaints about Members of the Scottish Parliament, councillors of the 32 Councils of Scotland, and members of Scottish public bodies. The Commissioner also monitors the appointment of members of specified public bodies in Scotland by the Scottish Ministers.
The post was created by the Public Services Reform (Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland etc.) Order 2013, legislation which came into force on 1 July 2013. Prior to that there were separate pieces of legislation to deal with complaints and investigations. The Commissioner's role in public standards is legislated for in the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000, Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Act 2002 and the Public Appointsments and Public Bodies etc. (Scotland) act 2003.
The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has a statutory responsibility for appointment of the Commissioner, with the agreement of the Scottish Parliament.
On 5 December 2013, Parliament approved the appointment of Bill Thomson as Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland, to take up the full-time post for a fixed term of 5 years from 1 April 2014, with a salary of £73,000. Thomson is a solicitor and was assistant chief executive at the Scottish Parliament; he replaced Stuart Allan who reached the end of his term on 31 March 2014.
The Commissioner and his team work in two areas:
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