SCHEDULE 1 The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
14Accountable officer
1
The Parliamentary corporation is to designate the Ombudsman, a deputy Ombudsman or a member of the Ombudsman’s staff as the accountable officer for the purposes of this paragraph.
2
The functions of the accountable officer are—
a
those specified in sub-paragraph (3), and
b
where the accountable officer is not the Ombudsman, the duty set out in sub-paragraph (4),
and the accountable officer is answerable to the Parliament for the exercise of those functions.
3
The functions referred to in sub-paragraph (2)(a) are—
a
signing the accounts of the expenditure and receipts of the Ombudsman,
b
ensuring the propriety and regularity of the finances of the Ombudsman,
c
ensuring that the resources of the Ombudsman are used economically, efficiently and effectively.
4
The duty referred to in sub-paragraph (2)(b) is a duty, where the accountable officer is required to act in some way but considers that to do so would be inconsistent with the proper performance of the functions specified in sub-paragraph (3), to—
a
obtain written authority from the Ombudsman before taking the action, and
b
send a copy of that authority as soon as possible to the Auditor General for Scotland.