Why do we need public bodies?
Public bodies have a long history in Scotland and have played an important and distinct role in advising government and delivering services to the public. They are normally established to carry out tasks which it would be inappropriate for legal or other reasons for mainstream Government departments to do.
We have public bodies because:
- they can operate with a degree of independence from Ministers, and provide expert independent advice on technical, scientific or other complex or sensitive issues.
- they can deal with government functions, which for legal or other reasons must be free from political interference or direct ministerial input.
- They can operate flexibly, in ways that may not be open to Scottish Government departments - for example, in building partnerships with other organisations, taking commercial and entrepreneurial decisions and operating at a local level.
- they allow the public sector to benefit from the skills, knowledge, expertise and commitment of the lay people who sit on their boards.
- they can focus in depth on clear and specific functions and purposes.
- they are the best and most cost-effective way in which to deliver some of our public services.