Commentary on Sections

Part 2 .Amendments of Provisions Relating to Other Commissions and Officeholders

Section 29: Standardising and other amendments

105.Part 2 introduces a number of schedules which make amendments to the other commissions and officeholders’ statutes to standardise certain provisions and make other minor amendments extending and qualifying the SPSO’s functions.

106.Section 29(2) introduces schedule 2 to the Act which amends the Ethical Standards Act to provide governance arrangements for the Standards Commission for Scotland. It standardises the terms and conditions of appointment of the members of the Standards Commission with the other officeholders and members of bodies supported by the Parliamentary corporation.

107.Section 29(3) introduces schedule 3 to the Act which provides for the standardisation of the governance arrangements and the terms and conditions of the SPSO with the other officeholders and members of bodies supported by the Parliamentary corporation. Other amendments make minor changes to improve the operation of the SPSO Act. It also transfers the functions of the Scottish Prison Complaints Commission to the SPSO.

108.Section 29 also introduces schedules 4, 5 and 6 to the Act which provide for the standardisation of the governance arrangements and the terms and conditions of appointment of the SIC, SCCYP and SHRC respectively with the other officeholders and members of bodies supported by the Parliamentary corporation.