09.01.2009
The Scottish Parliament is currently seeking applicants for three ‘officeholder’ posts.
The posts are for a new Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, Commissioner for Children and Young People and Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner .
The current Ombudsman Professor Alice Brown and the Commissioner for Children and Young People Kathleen Marshall both announced last year their intention to stand down from their respective posts.
Dr Jim Dyer, the current Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner , will also reach the end of his second and final term in post at the end of March 2009.
Dealing with complaints by members of the public and maladministration and service failure by public bodies will be the main function of the new Ombudsman. Professor Brown will stand down from this role at the end of March 2009.
The Children and Young People Commissioner’s main role is to promote and safeguard the rights of young people. This post will become vacant at the end of April 2009.
The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner has independent powers to investigate complaints against MSPs and has statutory powers to summon witnesses and compel evidence
All three posts will be for a fixed term of two years.
The Scottish Parliament is currently taking evidence on whether there should be changes to the terms and conditions and structure of these and other public bodies.