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Publication - Factsheet

National public bodies: directory

Last updated
17 August 2026 - see all updates
Directorate
Public Service Reform Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Directory providing a summary of key information on Scotland's national devolved public bodies.

Part of

Introduction

Public Bodies play an important role in the delivery of public services in Scotland, making a significant contribution to delivery our national outcomes and objectives set out in the National Performance Framework.

Public bodies deliver the priorities of Ministers, or the Parliament, through promotion, delivery, funding and scrutiny of services or by providing impartial, expert advice to Ministers, the Parliament, the public and those who deliver public services. They have the specialist knowledge and skills to focus on specific issues.

We provide the following information for each public body; category, contact details, SG funding amounts, headcount staffing numbers, Chief Executive name and salary.

See the Guide to Public Bodies in Scotland for more information.

Links to the information listed in these sections are reviewed at least quarterly and on an ad-hoc basis when new information arises.

Headcount and full-time equivalent (FTE) figures for Scottish devolved public sector organisations are available from Q1 2019 onwards, in the Public Sector Employment: Employment by organisation publication. These figures are consistent with those used to produce the Accredited Official Statistics Quarterly Public Sector Employment in Scotland publication. 

Figures may differ slightly from those used elsewhere, due to differences in coverage and inclusion criteria. Find out more in the Public Sector Employment Statistics Factsheet.

Contact

Email: PublicBodiesUnitMailbox@gov.scot

First published
1 July 2018
Last updated
17 August 2026 - show all updates

  1. Update to headcount information on Introduction page

  2. To remove staff Q4 and Q3 2025 data

  3. Update the name of the Chief Executive for Drinking Water Quality Regulator

  4. Removal of text referring to Scottish Government directorates - general on the page "Public sector organisations outwith Ministerial or Parliamentary responsibility". Move the text referring to "Other Scottish bodies" to the section which follows NHS Eileanan Siar

  5. Update CEO details for Education Scotland

  6. Update interim CEO details for Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator and the Scottish Prison Service. Updating records to include Public Services Delivery Scotland and remove entries for NHS National Services Scotland and NHS Education for Scotland

  7. To input staffing data for public bodies for Q4 2025

  8. To input details for the newly established National Social Work Agency

  9. Removal of Accountable Officer for Scottish Commission on Social Security

  10. Input details for His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland which is now live

  11. Update CEO details for Zero Waste Scotland

  12. Addition of an email address for Qualifications Scotland

  13. Add Qualifications Scotland as a new Public Body which now replaces Scottish Qualifications Authority

  14. Include reference to Qualifications Scotland and removal of reference to SQA

  15. Update address details for Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People

  16. Update CEO details for Scottish National Investment Bank

  17. To provide PB Headcount Staffing Data for Q3 2025

  18. To update Chief Executive details for NHS Orkney

  19. To update Chief Executive details for NHS Ayrshire and Arran

  20. To update Chief Executive details for HM Chief Inspectorate of Prosecution

  21. To update Q2 Staffing figures for David MacBrayne Ltd

  22. To update Q2 2025 staffing headcount data

  23. Removal of Local Authorities Remuneration Committee as it has been previously stood down

  24. Inputting Details for Scottish Pubs Code Adjudicator

  25. Amending contact details for public bodies

  26. Updating details of Chief Executives of NHS Health Boards

  27. Patient Safety Commissioner live as at 1st September

  28. To update details of funding provided to public bodies

  29. Update made to the CEO details for National Records of Scotland to Alison Byrne OBE.

  30. Update made to CEO details for VisitScotland to Vicki Miller.

  31. Update made to CE details for NHS Borders to Peter Moore.

  32. Update made to the list of organisations outwith Ministerial or Parliamentary control - removal of Remarkable Ltd.

  33. Amended the address for Scottish Water.

  34. Amended email address for Accounts Commission.

  35. To update financial figures for Scottish Futures Trust.

  36. To amend Queen's Lord Treasurer Remembrancer.

  37. To amend the Biometrics Commissioner entry as number of staff entered in error.

  38. Update to the headcount figures for Public Bodies as provided by ONS.

  39. Update to the headcount figures for Public Bodies as provided by ONS.

  40. Updated the number of Other Scottish Bodies due to error in total.

  41. Updated the list of Scottish Government Directorates and added Research Data Scotland under Other Scottish Bodies.

  42. Update to Scottish Biometrics Commissioner information.

  43. Updated headings of Public Bodies in this category in line with accessibility requirements.

  44. Updated headings of Public Bodies in this category in line with accessibility requirements.

  45. Updated contact details for Scottish Biometrics Commissioner.

  46. Updated contact details for Children's Hearings Scotland.

  47. Updated SFRS Chief Executive details.

  48. Removed Waste Scotland from public sector organisation not on the directory as it is now registered as NDPB.

  49. To add new NDPB to directory - Zero Waste Scotland..=

  50. Updates made to staffing figures.

  51. Updates made to alignment and details.

  52. update alignment.

  53. Notes update to Directory.

  54. Further updates to Notes page under PB Directory.

  55. To update Notes page under PB Directory.

  56. to update contact details of public body.

  57. Update details of public bodies.

  58. to update contact details of public bodies.

  59. To update contact details of public bodies

  60. To update contact details of public bodies

  61. to update public body details

  62. Updates to contact details and website addresses

  63. Update CEO for Public Body

  64. to update address and telephone number of HM Chief Inspector of Prosecution in Scotland

  65. to update telephone and email address for public body

  66. to update information for some NDPBs

  67. To amend Headings from Bold to Heading 3

  68. Updating Q1 2024 staffing figures for all public bodies

  69. Updated contact information for Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland.

  70. Removed Zero Waste Scotland from Public sector organisations not recorded on the directory section.

  71. CEO of Scottish Human Rights Commission updated.

  72. Updated Other significant national bodies.

  73. Minor update to National Museums Scotland.

  74. Added Redress Scotland and Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel.

  75. CE of Scottish Roadworks Commissioner updated.

  76. Updated contact details on three pages.

  77. Quarter 4 information added for many organisations.

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