This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scottish Legal Aid Board
29/12/2004
Two new members have been appointed to the Scottish
Legal Aid Board.
Ms Susan McPhee is 45 years old and has
been the Head of Social Policy and Public Affairs with
Citizens Advice Scotland since 1998. Before this she was a
legal services adviser with Citizens Advice Scotland since
1990, having previously been a solicitor in private
practice from 1981 to 1990.
Ms Elaine Rosie is 42 years old and has
been the Development Manager with Shelter Scotland since
2000, with responsibility for training and the Scottish
Homelessness Advisory Service. Prior to this she was the
Depute Director of Shelter Scotland for 8 years with
responsibility for the management of all of Shelter's
advice and legal services provision in Scotland.
The appointments will be for three years and three
months and will run from January 1, 2005, to March 31,
2008.
The appointments are on a part-time basis and attract a
remuneration of £8,125 for a time commitment of 3½ days per
month.
The Scottish Legal Aid Board is an independent statutory
body established under the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986.
Its main functions are:
- To assess, and where appropriate,
grant legal aid applications
- To scrutinise and settle accounts
submitted by solicitors and counsel
- To collect applicants'
contributions or awards of expenses to the other side,
in the case of civil legal aid
-
[ 3] To provide advice to Scottish Ministers on
legal aid matters
The Board has annual expenditure of around £157 million,
which includes the Legal Aid Fund and the Board's running
costs.
Ministerial public appointments are made in accordance
with the Code of Practice issued by the Office of the
Commissioner for Public Appointments.
All appointments are made on merit and political
activity plays no part in the selection process. However,
in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations,
there is a requirement for appointees' political activity
(if there is any to be declared) to be made public.
In this instance, neither Ms McPhee nor Ms Rosie has
declared any political activity during the past five
years.
One serving member of the Board, Mrs Yvonne Osman,
completes her extended term of office on December 31,
2004.