Public appointment: Members appointed to the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland

The Minister for Transport, Jenny Gilruth MSP, today announced the appointment of Catherine Barile, Elliot Cooper and Lesley Macinnes as Members of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland.

Members

Catherine Barile graduated from the University of Dundee with an honours Law degree and Diploma in Legal Practice. After qualifying as a Solicitor, she worked in private practice for 10 years, specialising in mental health law, before becoming a Children’s Reporter for the Scottish Children’s Reporter’s Administration where she is an active member of the disability group. Miss Barile grew up in a family with physical disabilities and she is passionate about protecting and promoting the rights of disabled people.

Elliot Cooper is a writer and content creator who brings his lived experience as a full-time wheelchair user as well as interdisciplinary academic knowledge to the role. This complements a lifelong commitment to Human Rights and accessibility.

Lesley Macinnes has spent most of her career in public service, including a long period in Geneva as the Deputy Support Director of an international NGO responsible for humanitarian demining (landmines and cluster munitions) and for administering the international Secretariat for the Ottawa Treaty. More recently, she has served as an elected councillor in Edinburgh, leading political efforts on transport and the environment and has led on the City Mobility Plan, the City Centre Transformation strategy, the Low Emission Zone and the Trams to Newhaven project. After the May 2022 elections, Ms Macinnes became her party’s spokesperson on finance.

Appointments

The appointments are for four years and run from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2026.

The appointments are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration and time commitment

The appointments attract remuneration of £162.00 per day for a time commitment of between 12 and 18 days per year.

Other ministerial appointments

Ms Barile, Mr Cooper and Ms Macinnes do not hold any other public appointments.

Political activity

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.

Ms Macinnes represents the Scottish National Party as an elected councillor in Edinburgh, as a local party officer and as a campaigning activist.

Ms Barile and Mr Cooper have had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

The Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) was set up under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 to advise Scottish Ministers on the barriers and challenges for disabled people in relation to transport. While supported by Transport Scotland, the Committee offers its views independently of government and it is expected to reflect the views of disabled people and organisations representing disabled people, however, it works also independently of those individuals and organisations.

MACS is a non-departmental advisory public body.  Within the founding legislation the Scottish Ministers have defined the overall aim for MACS as follows:

“MACS will consider such matters relating to the needs of disabled persons in connection with transport as the Committee think appropriate and give advice to Scottish Ministers”.

The Convener aims to ensure, that MACS’ policies and actions supports the wider strategic policies of the Scottish Ministers. This aligns with the agreed framework between MACS and Transport Scotland, the sponsor organisation. MACS work independently to the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland.