Rights and scrutiny threatened by SNP watchdog reforms

Scotland's FoI chief, Children's Rights Commissioner and many more have lined up to oppose SNP Scottish Government plans to allow ministers to change or abolish independent watchdogs without recourse to Parliament, says a Sunday Herald. report.

Many of the watchdogs are set up by specific legislation and are deliberately independent to scrutinise government. The new Bill would even allow the Government to abolish Parliamentary watchdogs.

Hiding behind a 'tidying up' of regulatory bodies, Section 10 of the Bill  means minsters, by ministerial order alone, could change or abolish organisations like Children's Panels, Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland, Information Commissioner, Criminal Cases Review Commission, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Qualifications Authority, Police Complaints Commissioner, Mental Health Tribunal and even Judicial Appointments.

The Sunday Herald reports Tam Baillie, Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, as saying the powers were of “great concern”, and could result in “weakened rights protection for Scotland’s children”. They report that Kevin Dunion, the Information Commissioner, said the powers were “inappropriate” and “anomalous”.

And even the Parliament's Presiding Officer is reported as being “surprised” to see bodies funded by the parliament included in the bill, all of which are independent of government. The Scottish Human Rights Commission is reported as saying the powers would be “not appropriate” and would undermine its independence.

UNISON Scotland has already commented on parts of the Bill and - especially since it was so active in fighting for issues like the FoI regime and Children's Rights - it must now challenge these attacks on scrutiny and independence.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/politics/czar-wars-msps-warned-watchdog-reforms-threaten-basic-rights-1.920990