Public Administration is a key part of the Committee’s remit and is best described as how the functions and systems of the Scottish Government work. The former First Minister explained that “For a sensible Government… transparency, good record-keeping and the ability to demonstrate the basis on which decisions are taken are as much in the interests of the Government as they are in the interests of those who are holding the Government to account.”
The Committee’s inquiry will therefore explore good practice in Government decision-making.
Key areas that the Committee will seek to explore include:
For this inquiry the Committee’s main focus is the decision-making process within the ‘core’ Scottish Government, that is its Directorates, Ministers and Special Advisers.
Considering specific decisions by the Scottish Government or any individual cases is not part of this inquiry, nor will the Committee be specifically considering matters currently the subject of scrutiny by other parliamentary Committees.
The Committee has agreed to undertake an inquiry to better understand the current policy decision-making process used by the Scottish Government.
The Committee will also seek to identify the skills and key principles necessary to support an effective government decision-making process.
The Committee is therefore seeking views on What are the key principles and best practice necessary to support effective government decision-making?
To inform the inquiry, the Committee's adviser, Professor Paul Cairney, has produced a research paper, What is Effective Government? You can read Professor Cairney's paper here:
Research Paper: What is Effective Government? by Professor Paul Cairney (533KB, pdf) posted 10 March 2023
Committee members have engaged with a range of former Ministers, former and current civil servants and former special advisers as part of this inquiry. Summaries of those discussions are provided below:
Summary note of 28 February 2023 discussions (113KB, pdf) posted 23 March 2023
Summary note of 14 March 2023 discussions (75KB, pdf) posted 23 March 2023
Summary note of 16 March 2023 discussions (88KB, pdf) posted 13 April 2023
Summary note of 21 March 2023 discussions (188KB, pdf) posted 13 April 2023
The Committee took evidence on the following dates:
The Committee took evidence from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Permanent Secretary, Scottish Government.
Read the agenda, papers and Official Report (substantially verbatim transcript) for this meeting
The Committee took evidence from the former Future Generations Commissioner for Wales and representatives from Wales Centre for Public Policy and University of Sheffield.
Read the agenda, papers and Official Report (substantially verbatim transcript) for this meeting
The Committee took evidence from representatives from Children in Scotland, Engender, Royal Town Planning Institute Scotland and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations.
Read the agenda, papers and Official Report (substantially verbatim transcript) for this meeting
The Committee took evidence from representatives from the Institute for Government and Ulster University and then from representatives from Scottish Engineering and Scottish Financial Enterprise.
Read the agenda, papers and Official Report (substantially verbatim transcript) for this meeting
The Committee took evidence from Diane Owenga, Programme Director, The Policy Project, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, New Zealand.
Read the agenda, papers and Official Report (substantially verbatim transcript) for this meeting
Diane Owenga produced the following presentation slides as part of her evidence session. Read the slides at the following link:
Presentation Slides by Diane Owenga for meeting on 18 April 2023 (1MB, pdf) posted 25 April 2023
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The Committee took evidence from representatives from Audit Scotland, Carnegie UK and the Fraser of Allander Institute.
Read the agenda, papers and Official Report (substantially verbatim transcript) for this meeting
The Committee took evidence from Professor Paul Cairney, Committee Adviser and Professor of Politics and Public Policy, University of Stirling.
Read the agenda, papers and Official Report (substantially verbatim transcript) for this meeting
The Committee's report, Public Administration - Effective Scottish Government Decision-Making, was published on Monday 3 July 2023. You can read the report at the following link:
To inform this inquiry, the Committee sought views from organisations and individuals with experience, knowledge or views on what makes for effective decision-making processes particularly in relation to Government. The Scottish Government will also be approached directly.
The Committee particularly wanted to hear from:
The Committee welcomed responses to any of the following questions.
Alongside written evidence, the Committee will also take oral evidence, appoint an advisor to support its work and undertake research; and carry out external engagement. The Committee’s views will be reported during 2023.
The call for views closed on 7 February 2023. The Committee received 28 submissions to its call for views. Read the submissions received at the following link:
The Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) has produced a summary of the written submissions received to the Committee's call for views. Read the summary at the following link: