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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Scottish ministers to be named when complaints upheld | Scottish ministers to be named when complaints upheld |
| (4 months later) | |
| Any Scottish government minister found guilty of misconduct will be named under an updated ministerial complaints procedure. | Any Scottish government minister found guilty of misconduct will be named under an updated ministerial complaints procedure. |
| The outcome of any upheld or partially upheld complaints made by civil servants will also be published. | The outcome of any upheld or partially upheld complaints made by civil servants will also be published. |
| The move comes after the outcome of a bullying inquiry into former minister Fergus Ewing was not made public. | The move comes after the outcome of a bullying inquiry into former minister Fergus Ewing was not made public. |
| Mr Ewing - then Scottish rural economy secretary - "completely rejected" the claims made against him by staff. | Mr Ewing - then Scottish rural economy secretary - "completely rejected" the claims made against him by staff. |
| When pressed on the outcome of the probe, Nicola Sturgeon claimed she was bound by legal data protection issues. | When pressed on the outcome of the probe, Nicola Sturgeon claimed she was bound by legal data protection issues. |
| But she said this was "not a situation I am comfortable with", and ordered a review of the system to see whether the outcome of complaints could be published in future. | But she said this was "not a situation I am comfortable with", and ordered a review of the system to see whether the outcome of complaints could be published in future. |
| Sturgeon accused of secrecy over Ewing bullying inquiry | Sturgeon accused of secrecy over Ewing bullying inquiry |
| New system for complaints against Scottish ministers | New system for complaints against Scottish ministers |
| Scottish cabinet minister denies bullying allegations | Scottish cabinet minister denies bullying allegations |
| Deputy First Minister John Swinney said the changes were being made to improve transparency. | Deputy First Minister John Swinney said the changes were being made to improve transparency. |
| He said: "The first minister advised the Scottish Parliament in June that the ministerial code and complaints procedure would be updated with regards to future complaints. | He said: "The first minister advised the Scottish Parliament in June that the ministerial code and complaints procedure would be updated with regards to future complaints. |
| "The Scottish government is determined to build a culture in which concerns are addressed early and in which all those who are involved with a complaint have confidence and can engage constructively and fairly in the process." | "The Scottish government is determined to build a culture in which concerns are addressed early and in which all those who are involved with a complaint have confidence and can engage constructively and fairly in the process." |
| Where the outcome of a formal complaint is upheld or partially upheld, ministers will be named and the outcome of the complaint published along with a redacted version of the decision report. | Where the outcome of a formal complaint is upheld or partially upheld, ministers will be named and the outcome of the complaint published along with a redacted version of the decision report. |
| Under the new procedure, the first minister will be informed of a complaint about a current minister, including their name, at the outset of the process. | Under the new procedure, the first minister will be informed of a complaint about a current minister, including their name, at the outset of the process. |
| However, they will not be told the identity of a former minister who is the subject of a complaint. | However, they will not be told the identity of a former minister who is the subject of a complaint. |
| Fergus Ewing was accused of bullying when he was Scottish rural economy secretary and denied the claims | Fergus Ewing was accused of bullying when he was Scottish rural economy secretary and denied the claims |
| The procedure applies to all Scottish government staff and civil servants working in the Scottish government's executive agencies. | The procedure applies to all Scottish government staff and civil servants working in the Scottish government's executive agencies. |
| Information on the number of formal complaints will be published every six months. | Information on the number of formal complaints will be published every six months. |
| In cases where a complaint is not upheld, the minister's name and the outcome will be published on the Scottish government website for a period of six months. | In cases where a complaint is not upheld, the minister's name and the outcome will be published on the Scottish government website for a period of six months. |
| The planned changes will come into effect by the end of the year. | The planned changes will come into effect by the end of the year. |
| In 2021, it was announced complaints against ministers will no longer be investigated in-house by the Scottish government. | In 2021, it was announced complaints against ministers will no longer be investigated in-house by the Scottish government. |
| The shake-up was prompted after the Scottish government was found to have acted unlawfully while investigating two internal harassment complaints against the former first minister Alex Salmond. | The shake-up was prompted after the Scottish government was found to have acted unlawfully while investigating two internal harassment complaints against the former first minister Alex Salmond. |
| A review by Laura Dunlop QC had recommended that such inquiries should be independent of government. | A review by Laura Dunlop QC had recommended that such inquiries should be independent of government. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Scottish government | Scottish government |
| Scotland | |
| John Swinney | John Swinney |