About the Ethical Standards Commissioner
The Commissioner and his team work within his remit to encourage fairness, good conduct and transparency in public life in Scotland. We investigate complaints about the behaviour of MSPs, local authority councillors, and board members of public bodies and about lobbyists, and look into how people are appointed to the boards of public bodies in Scotland.
Promoting high ethical standards in public life
The Ethical Standards Commissioner is an independent regulator appointed by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, approved by MSPs and underpinned by legislation. The full-time post was created in 2013 and is currently held by Bill Thomson, a solicitor who was previously Assistant Chief Executive of the Scottish Parliament.
The Commissioner is supported by a team of people and together they undertake functions set out the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000, the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Act 2002, the Public Appointments and Public Bodies etc. (Scotland) Act 2003, and the Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016.
Investigating complaints
We investigate complaints about the behaviour of MSPs, local authority councillors, and board members of public bodies and about lobbyists.
Regulating public appointments
We regulate and monitor how people are appointed to the boards of public bodies in Scotland, and promote diversity.