Too many Commissioners? MSPs to investigate

A committee of MSPs is beginning an inquiry into the number of commissioner posts now existing or proposed for Scotland.

Holyrood’s Finance & Public Administration Committee will investigate whether a more "coherent and strategic" approach is needed for the creation of any further commissioners.

Scotland currently has seven commissioners directly responsible to Parliament. They are the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland; the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner; the Scottish Commissioner for Children and Young People; the Scottish Human Rights Commission; the Scottish Information Commissioner; the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman; and the Standards Commission for Scotland.

An eighth – the Patients Safety Commissioner – was agreed by Parliament in September 2023, and a further six commissioners have been proposed or are being considered, by both the Government and by backbench MSPs, potentially bringing the total number to 14 by the end of the present five year session of Parliament.

Between them the seven commissioners are budgeted to cost £16.6m in 2023-24. The individual costs range from £0.3m to £6.7m. 

Committee convener Kenneth Gibson MSP commented: "The Scottish Government has already stated there is very little published research on commissioners in Scotland – or the UK – and little evaluation exploring their pros and cons, powers or ways of working.

"Our committee will therefore investigate whether a more coherent and strategic approach is needed for the creation of such commissioners in Scotland."

A call for views will be issued in January.