Frequently Asked Questions
Why do we need a Commissioner for Public Appointments? Does it mean that the system is unfair at the moment?
No. In fact the process has been regulated since 1995 by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Great Britain, who was appointed in response to the Nolan Committee’s recommendations for improving standards in public life.
Following devolution, on 1 June 2004 Karen Carlton was appointed as the first Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland. The work done by both Commissioners has gone a long way to improving fairness and openness in public appointments, but there is still work to be done. The Commissioner, her Office and her team of OCPAS Assessors provide ongoing regulation of the appointments process. We deal with enquiries, provide guidance on the Code of Practice, investigate complaints and monitor appointment rounds to make sure that the Code is followed and interpreted appropriately for every appointment round for a regulated public body.
