This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scottish Legal Aid Board
04/04/2006
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson today announced the appointment of Iain A Robertson CBE as the new Chair to the Scottish Legal Aid Board
Mr Robertson was Chief Executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) from 1990 to 2000m having previously spent 15 years with BP, latterly as Director of Acquisitions and Divestitures in the USA.
In addition to other senior industry and voluntary sector roles, he has served as a member of several Boards, including the Scottish Tourist Board, Locate in Scotland Supervisory Board and the Cairngorms Partnership.
This appointment will be for four years and will run from April 1, 2006 to March 31, 2010.
This post is part-time and attracts a remuneration of pound28,603 for a time commitment of two days per week. Mr Robertson is currently a member of the Accounts Commission that attracts an annual remuneration of £4,800 and an independent member of the DTI Legal Services Board that attracts an annual remuneration of £4,800.
Mr Robertson was recently appointed Chair of the Coal Liabilities Strategy Board, which is linked to his role in the DTI. That attracted a remuneration of £3,750 for the year to March 31, 2006.
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
- To provide advice to Scottish Ministers on legal aid matters
The Board has an annual expenditure of around £164 million, which includes the Legal Aid Fund and the Board's running costs.
Ministerial public appointments are made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of Practice.
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. Mr Robertson has not been involved in any political activity within the last five years.