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Public bodies of the Scottish Government

Public bodies of the Scottish Government (Scottish Gaelic: Buidhnean Poblach Riaghaltas na h-Alba) are organisations that are funded by the Scottish Government. They form a tightly meshed network of executive and advisory non-departmental public bodies ("quangoes"); tribunals; and nationalised industries. Such public bodies are distinct from executive agencies of the Scottish Government, as unlike them they are not considered to be part of the Government and staff of public bodies are not civil servants, although executive agencies are listed in the Scottish Government's directory of national public bodies alongside other public bodies.

Governance

The Scottish Government is responsible for appointing a board of directors to run public bodies. The Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland is responsible for regulating the process.

Public bodies are assigned "sponsoring departments" who provide funding in the form of grant-in-aid to assist with running costs and capital investment. Most public bodies also have other sources of income (for example the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh receives income from charging the public to visit the greenhouses in its gardens).

List of public bodies

Non-ministerial offices

Non-ministerial offices are staffed by civil servants, but do not form part of the Scottish Government. They are accountable to, and funded by the Scottish Parliament, and publish their own annual reports and accounts. Each office is headed by a board or statutory officeholder(s) appointed by the Scottish Government.

Consumer Scotland
Environmental Standards Scotland
Food Standards Scotland
National Records of Scotland
Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator
Registers of Scotland
Revenue Scotland
Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
Scottish Fiscal Commission
Scottish Housing Regulator

Executive non-departmental public bodies

Executive NDPBs carry out work on behalf of government but do not form part of it, nor are they directly accountable to parliament. They operate within a framework of governance and accountability set by Ministers; often this is defined in specific legislation setting up each body. They employ their own staff, who are not civil servants.

Accounts Commission for Scotland
Architecture and Design Scotland
Bòrd na Gàidhlig
Cairngorms National Park Authority
Care Inspectorate
Children's Hearings Scotland
Community Justice Scotland
Creative Scotland
Crofting Commission
David MacBrayne Ltd
Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd
Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Historic Environment Scotland
Independent Living Fund Scotland
The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority
National Galleries of Scotland
National Library of Scotland
National Museums Scotland
NatureScot
Police Investigations and Review Commissioner
Quality Meat Scotland
Redress Scotland
Risk Management Authority
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Scottish Agricultural Wages Board
Scottish Canals
Scottish Children's Reporter Administration
Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission
Scottish Enterprise
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Scottish Funding Council
Scottish Futures Trust
Scottish Land Commission
Scottish Legal Aid Board
Scottish Legal Complaints Commission
Scottish National Investment Bank
Scottish Qualifications Authority
Scottish Rail Holdings
Scottish Social Services Council
Skills Development Scotland
South of Scotland Enterprise
sportscotland
VisitScotland
Water Industry Commission for Scotland
Zero Waste Scotland

Advisory non-departmental public bodies

Advisory NDPBs are similar to Executive NDPBs, but do not undertake activities directly. They provide independent expert advice to the government and others in relation to particular subject. They do not normally employ staff, with administrative support usually being provided by civil servants.

Boundaries Scotland
Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland
Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland
Poverty and Inequality Commission for Scotland
Scottish Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards
Scottish Commission on Social Security
Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel
Scottish Law Commission

Tribunals

Tribunals undertake judicial functions, but do not form part of the court system. They are independent of government, and are not responsible for budgets or expenditure other than remuneration for tribunal members.

First-tier Tribunal for Scotland
Parole Board for Scotland
Upper Tribunal for Scotland

Public corporations

Public corporations are companies which recover more than 50% of their costs through commercial activities. They are managed by a board whose members are appointed by the government. Public corporations employ their own staff (who are not civil servants) and manage their own budgets.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd
Crown Estate Scotland
Glasgow Prestwick Airport
Scottish Water

Executive agencies

Executive agencies form part of the Scottish Government, but have a specific, well-defined remit. They are staffed by civil servants and headed by a Chief Executive, who is a civil servant, and are directly accountable to the government.

Accountant in Bankruptcy
Disclosure Scotland
Education Scotland
Forestry and Land Scotland
Scottish Forestry
Scottish Prison Service
Scottish Public Pensions Agency
Social Security Scotland
Student Awards Agency for Scotland
Transport Scotland

Commissioners and ombudsmen

Commissioners and ombudsmen are responsible for monitoring the actions of government and public boards. They are responsible to parliament, and appointed by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, in order to ensure their independence from government.