Citizens' Assembly for Scotland (CAfS) - information and setup: FOI release

Information requested

You asked:

I am interested in the Citizens' Assembly for Scotland (CAfS).

Its website does not clearly set out its legal form. I have also been unable to locate it in the National Public Bodies Directory (https://www.gov.scot/publications/national-public-bodies- directory/pages/introduction/).

Can you clarify - what legal entity runs the CAfS? Put another way, when CAfS needs to enter into contracts to buy the goods and services it needs, which legal entity enters into those contracts? Is it for example the Scottish Ministers (as established by s44 Scotland Act 1998), or the Conveners in their personal capacities? Has a company been set up as a special purpose vehicle to run the Assembly? Has a new NDPB been set up by legislation? Or is it something else?

Finally, can you clarify what type of public body (if any) the CAfS is? I was surprised that it was not listed in the national directory.

Response

Can you clarify - what legal entity runs the CAfS? Finally, can you clarify what type of public body (if any) the CAfS is?

The Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland was set up under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Scottish Ministers and the Conveners of the Citizens’ Assembly of  Scotland. The Convener has been appointed by the Scottish Ministers.

The Citizens Assembly members have also entered into agreements on a Code of Conduct for example.  Further details are on the Assembly website.

Put another way, when CAfS needs to enter into contracts to buy the goods and services it needs, which legal entity enters into those contracts? Is it for example the Scottish Ministers (as established by s44 Scotland Act 1998), or the Conveners in their personal capacities?

The Memorandum of Understanding sets out in detail the support to be provided to the Assembly by the Scottish Government, for example in terms of accommodation and contracting (see paragraphs 7 – 11).

The Scottish Government has also provided the Citizens Assembly with a Secretariat which is partially made up of civil servants on secondment. The civil servants working in the Secretariat will comply with the Civil Service Code and will take direction from and be accountable to the Convenor.

Has a company been set up as a special purpose vehicle to run the Assembly? Has a new NDPB been set up by legislation?

No.

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