Investigating complaints
We investigate complaints about the behaviour of MSPs, local authority councillors, and board members of public bodies and about lobbyists.
Regulating public appointments
We regulate and monitor how people are appointed to the boards of public bodies in Scotland, and promote diversity.
About the Ethical Standards Commissioner
The Commissioner and their team work within their remit to encourage fairness, good conduct and transparency in public life in Scotland. We investigate complaints about the behaviour of MSPs, local authority councillors and board members of public bodies and about lobbyists. We also regulate how people are appointed to the majority of boards of public bodies in Scotland.
Our values, our purpose and our objectives are set out in our strategic plan and our biennial business plan.
Annual Report and Accounts 2023/24
The Commissioner has recently published his Annual Report and Accounts for the year 2023/24. It was laid before the Scottish Parliament on 29 October. In publishing, the Commissioner, Ian Bruce said:
This year we have built on the firm foundations I established during my time as Acting Commissioner. As with all other public sector organisations, we continue to have a range of risks and challenges to address but we remain committed to continuous improvement and to listening to and acting on the views of all our stakeholders whose expectations of us are rightly high. I am very grateful to each and every one of the staff in the office, and to the Senior Management Team in particular, for taking our work onto another level during the year. It wasn’t straightforward to make the changes that we have, given the sharp increase in complaint volumes and the introduction of new staff members over the same period. It is a real privilege to lead a team of talented and dedicated professionals who share the office’s values and who see the need for and are committed to making further improvements to the way in which we fulfil our role, as evidenced by our Annual Report. Our strategic plan for 2024 to 2028 gives us a clear path for that activity.
Strategic Plan 2024-2028
The Commissioner has recently published his strategic plan on the work of our office for the period from 2024-2028. Our plan is also available in Easy Read.
This plan aims to inform MSPs, local authority councillors, public body board members and, of course, the people of Scotland, upon whose trust every elected individual and public authority relies, about what we will we do in the coming years. This plan sets out a range of metrics that we have adopted or plan to adopt to measure our performance which we will use to demonstrate the value of our own contribution to public life. Below each of our overarching objectives are a set of sub-goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound. We explain in this plan how and in what way they will contribute to the overarching objectives and to the ultimate outcomes that we intend to achieve.
Just as importantly, it explains how we will fulfil our role in accordance with our core values. We have made a public commitment to treat each individual who comes into contact with us with us with kindness, empathy and respect.
In publishing, the Commissioner said:
I am grateful to the individuals and organisations who took the time to provide comments and constructive feedback on this plan whilst it was subject to consultation. We are dedicated to continuous improvement and I am always happy to listen to individuals and organisations who have thoughts about the ways in which we can do better.
What's New
Consultant appointed to deliver Diversity Strategy Refresh
We are pleased to announce that Leading Kind have been successful in tendering for our project to refresh the Diversity Strategy for Public Appointments.
We are very much looking forward to working with Leading Kind on this vitally important project.
Investigations Manual
For the first time in the history of the office the Commissioner has published their Investigations Manual for public reference in line with their commitment to accountability, honesty and transparency. The manual has been created to codify the investigations processes across all aspects of the office's work and was finalised in consultation with our stakeholders.
Revised Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland
The revised Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland and accompanying Statutory Guidance are now live and will be applied to all new appointment rounds commencing after 3rd October 2022.
Joint Statement from the Independent Scottish Parliamentary Officeholders
The Commissioner has recently published a joint statement from the independent Parliamentary Officeholders in response to the report of the Scottish Parliament's Finance and Public Administration Committee on Scotland's Commissioner Landscape.
Investigation Report on a complaint about the ESC
In January 2021, a number of concerns were raised about how we investigated a complaint about the conduct of a Councillor. The issues raised were significant and we commissioned an independent investigation. We have now published the resulting report which details the issues, the investigation, the findings and our responses to the recommendations.
Updated Guide to Information
The Commissioner has updated their Guide to Information. This shows you the information we produce and how you can access it.