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Published by The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
Report on Public Administration - effective Scottish Government decision-making
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Published: Monday 03 Jul 2023 (FPA062023R6)
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Overview
Report
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Overview
Report
Executive Summary
Membership changes
Introduction
What is effective decision-making?
A changed context for decision-making
Freedom of Information Act 2000
The Scottish Government's approach and structures
Process
A framework for decision-making
The use of evidence in decision-making
Challenge and risk
Short term versus long term
People
Churn
Leadership
Performance
Accountability for improving standards
Annexe A - Background note on the Civil Service
Annexe B - Notes from Committee Engagement Events
Annexe C - Extracts from the Minutes of Finance and Public Administration Committee Meetings
Annexe D - Evidence
Executive Summary
Membership changes
Introduction
What is effective decision-making?
A changed context for decision-making
The Scottish Government's approach and structures
Process
People
Performance
Annexe A - Background note on the Civil Service
Annexe B - Notes from Committee Engagement Events
Annexe C - Extracts from the Minutes of Finance and Public Administration Committee Meetings
Annexe D - Evidence
Sources
Image: Chart 1: The policy cycle and the policy spirograph
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Image: Figure 1: Accountability relationships of civil servants working for the Scottish Government, UK Government and Welsh Government.
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The Handbook of Teaching Public Administration. (2020). (n.p.): Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.
Summary note of discussions with former Ministers, former special advisers and former civil servants. (2023, February 28). Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/finance-and-public-administration-committee/decisionmaking_summarynoteofevent_28feb23.pdf
Professor Paul Cairney. (2023, February 23). Report: What is effective government?. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/finance-and-public-administration-committee/decisionmaking_committeeadviserresearch_9mar23.pdf
Finance and Public Administration Committee . (2023, March 14). Official Report. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-finance-and-public-administration-committee/meetings/2023/fpas6238
Finance and Public Administration Committee. (2023, March 28). Official Report. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-finance-and-public-administration-committee/meetings/2023/fpas6239
Finance and Public Administration Committee. (2023, May 16). Official Report. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-finance-and-public-administration-committee/meetings/2023/fpas62314
Finance and Public Administration Committee. (2023, May 2). Official Report. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-finance-and-public-administration-committee/meetings/2023/fpas62312
Summary note of discussions with civil servants. (2023, March 21). Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/finance-and-public-administration-committee/summary-note-of-21-march-2023-discussions.pdf
Finance and Public Administration Committee. (2023, April 25). Official Report. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-finance-and-public-administration-committee/meetings/2023/fpas62311
Summary note of discussions with former Minister. (2023, March 16). Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/finance-and-public-administration-committee/summary-note-of-16-march-2023-discussions.pdf
Summary note of discussions with former Scottish Government Ministers. (2023, March 14). Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/finance-and-public-administration-committee/decisionmaking_summarynoteofevent_14mar23.pdf
Finance and Public Administration Committee. (2023, April 18). Official Report. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-finance-and-public-administration-committee/meetings/2023/fpas62310
Finance and Public Administration Committee. (2023, May 9). Official Report. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-finance-and-public-administration-committee/meetings/2023/fpas62313
House of Lords Constitution Commitee, UK Parliament. (2023, April 26). Inquiry into senior civil servants appointments and dismissals. Retrieved from
https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/13065/pdf/
UK Government Review of Governance and Accountability. (2022, July). Terms of Reference. Retrieved from
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1093763/Governance___Accountability_Review_-_Terms_of_Reference.pdf
Herald Scotland article. (2023, May 23). Alister Jack questions 'constitutional propriety' of new indy minister. Retrieved from
https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/23503105.alister-jack-questions-constitutional-propriety-new-indy-minister/
House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, UK Parliament. (2023, April 24). Inquiry into Civil Service leadership and reform. Retrieved from
https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/327/public-administration-and-constitutional-affairs-committee/news/194888/does-the-civil-service-need-reforming-mps-launch-new-inquiry/
Audit Scotland. (2023, February 7). Written submission. Retrieved from
https://yourviews.parliament.scot/finance/inquiry-into-public-administration/consultation/published_select_respondent
Paul Gray. (2023, February 7). Written submission. Retrieved from
https://yourviews.parliament.scot/finance/inquiry-into-public-administration/consultation/published_select_respondent
Roger Mullin. (2023, February 7). Written submission. Retrieved from
https://yourviews.parliament.scot/finance/inquiry-into-public-administration/consultation/published_select_respondent
Professor Johannes Siebert. (2023, February 7). Written submission. Retrieved from
https://yourviews.parliament.scot/finance/inquiry-into-public-administration/consultation/published_select_respondent
Volunteer Scotland. (2023, February 7). Written submission. Retrieved from
https://yourviews.parliament.scot/finance/inquiry-into-public-administration/consultation/published_select_respondent
Professor Jonathan Baron. (2023, February 7). Written submission. Retrieved from
https://yourviews.parliament.scot/finance/inquiry-into-public-administration/consultation/published_select_respondent
New Zealand Public Service Act 2020, Schedule 6, Clause 8.. (2020, August 6). Retrieved from
https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2020/0040/latest/LMS106159.html
The Scottish Government. (2022, September 6). A stronger and more resilient Scotland: the Programme for Government 2022 to 2023. Retrieved from
https://www.gov.scot/publications/stronger-more-resilient-scotland-programme-government-2022-23/
The Scottish Government. (2021, August 21). Scottish Government and external training spend: FOI release. Retrieved from
https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202000092556/
Equality and Human Rights Commission. (2023, February 7). Written submission. Retrieved from
https://yourviews.parliament.scot/finance/inquiry-into-public-administration/consultation/published_select_respondent
Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland. (2023, February 7). Written submission. Retrieved from
https://yourviews.parliament.scot/finance/inquiry-into-public-administration/consultation/published_select_respondent
The Scottish Government. (2023, June 13). Public sector employment in Scotland: web tables. Retrieved from
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Institute for Government . (2021, April). Finding the right skills for the civil service. Retrieved from
https://www.civilservant.org.uk/library/2021-IfG-civil-service-skills.pdf
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