The Scottish Government

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ON BOARD
A Guide for Board Members of Public Bodies in Scotland

MINISTER FOR FINANCE AND PUBLIC SERVICES

Public bodies play a crucial and valued role in the provision of advice and the delivery of public services. Most aspects of our lives are affected in some way by the work carried out by them. They allow government functions to be carried out without day-to-day control by Ministers and also allow the public sector to utilise knowledge, skills and expertise which would not otherwise be available. Scottish Ministers are very appreciative of the work and commitment of all non-executive Board members who serve Scotland well on the Boards of our public bodies.

The role and responsibilities of those appointed to public bodies are, however, more demanding than ever. The Public Bodies Review highlighted the need to provide Board members with the necessary information and training to ensure that they are able to carry out their duties to the highest standards. Precise training and information requirements will of course vary from Board to Board, depending on both the type of body and the nature of its functions. This Guide provides a comprehensive standard induction pack covering generic issues such as roles and responsibilities of public bodies, and accountability and governance arrangements to supplement tailored induction and training.

I therefore warmly welcome the publication of this 'On Board' Guide. I very much hope you will find it of interest and value as a source of reference and advice and that it will help make your appointment effective, enjoyable and personally fulfilling. On behalf of the Scottish Executive, I would like to thank you for your time, commitment and effort in serving the people of Scotland.

Andy Kerr MSP
Minister for Finance and Public Services

Acknowledgements

The Scottish Executive would like to thank all those organisations and individuals who offered words of advice and encouragement during the development of this Guide.

The Scottish Executive is particularly grateful to David Nicholl, Head of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) in Northern Ireland for developing this Guide and for his invaluable advice, guidance and support.

The Scottish Executive would also like to thank Audit Scotland and the various members/Chairs of Public Bodies in Scotland who provided valuable feedback on the content of the Guide. We also wish to acknowledge the contribution made by those officials in the Scottish Executive who provided advice and/or sat on the Project Steering Group.

The Scottish Executive recognises the encouragement and support provided by the Chief Executives' Forum in Northern Ireland whose earlier publication inspired this production. On Board: A Guide for Board Members of Public Bodies in Northern Ireland was first published in 1998 by the Chief Executives' Forum and CIPFA Northern Ireland.

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