Public bodies of the Scottish Government

Public bodies of the Scottish Government (Scottish Gaelic: Buidhnean Poblach Riaghaltas na h-Alba) are organisations that are funded by the Scottish Government. They form a tightly meshed network of executive and advisory non-departmental public bodies ("quangoes"); tribunals; and nationalised industries. Such public bodies are distinct from executive agencies of the Scottish Government, as unlike them they are not considered to be part of the Government and staff of public bodies are not civil servants, although executive agencies are listed in the Scottish Government's directory of national public bodies alongside other public bodies.[1]

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Administration

Governance

The Scottish Government is responsible for appointing a board of directors to run public bodies. The Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland is responsible for regulating the process.

Public bodies are assigned "sponsoring departments" who provide funding in the form of grant-in-aid to assist with running costs and capital investment. Most public bodies also have other sources of income (for example the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh receives income from charging the public to visit the greenhouses in its gardens).

List of public bodies

Non-ministerial offices

Non-ministerial offices are staffed by civil servants, but do not form part of the Scottish Government. They are accountable to, and funded by the Scottish Parliament, and publish their own annual reports and accounts. Each office is headed by a board or statutory officeholder(s) appointed by the Scottish Government.[2][3]

Executive non-departmental public bodies

Executive NDPBs carry out work on behalf of government but do not form part of it, nor are they directly accountable to parliament. They operate within a framework of governance and accountability set by Ministers; often this is defined in specific legislation setting up each body. They employ their own staff, who are not civil servants.[2][4]

Advisory non-departmental public bodies

Advisory NDPBs are similar to Executive NDPBs, but do not undertake activities directly. They provide independent expert advice to the government and others in relation to particular subject. They do not normally employ staff, with administrative support usually being provided by civil servants.[2][5]

Tribunals

Tribunals undertake judicial functions, but do not form part of the court system. They are independent of government, and are not responsible for budgets or expenditure other than remuneration for tribunal members.[2][6]

Public corporations

Public corporations are companies which recover more than 50% of their costs through commercial activities. They are managed by a board whose members are appointed by the government. Public corporations employ their own staff (who are not civil servants) and manage their own budgets.[2][7]

Executive agencies

Executive agencies form part of the Scottish Government, but have a specific, well-defined remit. They are staffed by civil servants and headed by a Chief Executive, who is a civil servant, and are directly accountable to the government.[2][8]

Commissioners and ombudsmen

Commissioners and ombudsmen are responsible for monitoring the actions of government and public boards. They are responsible to parliament, and appointed by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, in order to ensure their independence from government.[2][9]

Health bodies

Other significant national bodies[10]

References
  1. "Directory of National Public Bodies". Scottish Government. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  2. "Public bodies in Scotland: guide". Scottish Government. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  3. "National public bodies directory - Non-ministerial offices". Scottish Government. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  4. "National public bodies directory - Executive non-departmental public bodies". Scottish Government. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  5. "National public bodies directory - Advisory non-departmental public bodies". Scottish Government. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  6. "National public bodies directory - Tribunals". Scottish Government. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  7. "National public bodies directory - Public corporations". Scottish Government. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  8. "National public bodies directory - Executive agencies". Scottish Government. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  9. "National public bodies directory - Executive agencies". Scottish Government. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  10. "National public bodies directory - Other significant national bodies". Scottish Government. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
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