What is the Ethical Standards in Public Life framework?
The Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 established a framework to ensure that the highest standards of behaviour were maintained by local authority councillors and members (such as board members) of certain public bodies. It introduced Codes of Conduct which these councillors and members must comply with at all times in their duties. It established the Office of the Chief Investigating Officer to receive complaints by any member of the public about non-compliance of these Codes and also established the Standards Commission for Scotland to hold hearings into alleged breaches of the Codes.
Who does the framework cover?
Councillors in all 32 local authorities across Scotland are covered by the ethical standards framework. In addition, the members (usually called 'board members' but sometimes called 'commissioners') of certain devolved public bodies are covered by the ethical standards framework. These bodies are listed in Schedule 3 of the Act and this list is under constant revision as bodies are created, abolished, or merged. As of December 2008, the framework included:
- 29 Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies
- 1 Non Ministerial Department
- 23 NHS Public Bodies
- 1 Public Corporation
- 39 Further Education Colleges
Section 4 of the Ethical Standards Act also makes provision for other public bodies to be included under the ethical standards framework. As of December 2008 there were 10 bodies listed in terms of Part 4 of the Ethical Standards Act. These are largely public bodies which spend little or no public money or whose members receive no remuneration.
These bodies, although responsible for adhering to their own codes of conduct, will not be subject to investigation by the Chief Investigating Officer nor subject to a hearing by the Standards Commission. This ensures that the ethical standards framework will not be disproportionate in the use of public resources.
The list of public bodies included in the ethical standards framework is updated regularly.
Further Information
Further information on the Ethical Standards in Public Life framework is available from the Scottish Government.