Ministers publish plans for public sector scrutiny

Government responds to Crerar Review recommendations

News, 18 January 2008

The Scottish Government has published its plans for a new approach to the scrutiny of public services in Scotland.

The Government wants to implement recommendations made in the independent review of regulation, audit, inspection and complaints handling for public services in Scotland.

Led by Professor Lorne Crerar, the review, published in September 2007, recommended a new approach to scrutiny where external scrutiny concentrates on high risk areas, freeing up delivery bodies to get on with providing high quality services.

The government response to the Crerar Review sets out which recommendations have been accepted in full, which have been accepted in principle and which need further consideration.

The main principles of the government's approach are:

to set out clearly what should be expected of scrutiny, as part of a reform of public services;
to be proportionate and provide best value; and
to support robust self-assessment using outcome-based approaches.

Five action groups will look at accountability and governance; policy and approach; a fit-for-purpose complaints system; user focus; and reducing burdens.

The groups' work is due to be finished by the summer, when a more detailed announcement on the improvements this work has led to will be made.

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney said: "I want to see a slimmer and simplified system, radically refocusing the public sector to serve Scotland's people better. In the summer, I hope to make a more detailed announcement on specific areas of improvement we have delivered in response to the Crerar Review."