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Section 2 — The Commissioner's functions
Public Appointments and Public Bodies etc (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
2:38 pm
Iain Smith (Liberal Democrat)
Amendment 3 should be rejected, because the important aspect of the bill is its intention to provide the correct balance between an independent commissioner and parliamentary scrutiny and accountability. Following amendment at stage 2, the bill gets that balance right. It allows the commissioner to go about his or her work free from political interference—whether from the Executive or the Parliament—but it provides the backstop that, if the Executive ultimately fails to act in accordance with the code, the Parliament can intervene.
That is the right balance: it is the balance that we seek to achieve in the public appointments part of the bill. To require the Parliament to approve the code of practice would be to undermine the important independence of the commissioner.
I urge the Parliament to reject amendment 3