Research on Time Commitment, Remuneration and Other Aspects of the Role of Public Appointees in Scotland 2025

Between December 2024 and May 2025, the office of the Ethical Standards Commissioner undertook a thematic review on the time commitment, remuneration, and other aspects of the role of public appointees, in response to a growing number of anecdotal concerns regarding the experiences of public appointees in Scotland. This thematic review is conducted with a view to:

• Establishing whether, from the perspective of people appointed, the role descriptions included in applicant information packs are accurate.
• Understanding the impact of certain aspects of these roles from currently under-reflected groups and whether they can create barriers to taking them up or remaining in them; and
• Exploring the extent to which the Commissioner’s statutory functions are understood.

This report details the findings of the survey.

The Scottish Government's response to the report was provided on 7 October 2025.