Public bodies of the Scottish Government () are organisations that are funded by the Scottish Government. They form a tightly meshed network of executive and advisory non-departmental public bodies ("quangoes"); tribunals; and nationalised industries. Such public bodies are distinct from executive agencies of the Scottish Government, as unlike them they are not considered to be part of the Government and staff of public bodies are not civil servants, although executive agencies are listed in the Scottish Government's directory of national public bodies alongside other public bodies.
Governance
The Scottish Government is responsible for appointing a board of directors to run public bodies. The Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland is responsible for regulating the process.
Public bodies are assigned "sponsoring departments" who provide funding in the form of grant-in-aid to assist with running costs and capital investment. Most public bodies also have other sources of income (for example the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh receives income from charging the public to visit the greenhouses in its gardens).
List of public bodies
Non-ministerial offices
Non-ministerial offices are staffed by civil servants, but do not form part of the Scottish Government. They are accountable to, and funded by the Scottish Parliament, and publish their own annual reports and accounts. Each office is headed by a board or statutory officeholder(s) appointed by the Scottish Government.
Consumer Scotland
Environmental Standards Scotland
Food Standards Scotland
National Records of Scotland
Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator
Registers of Scotland
Revenue Scotland
Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
Scottish Fiscal Commission
Scottish Housing Regulator
Executive non-departmental public bodies
Executive NDPBs carry out work on behalf of government but do not form part of it, nor are they directly accountable to parliament. They operate within a framework of governance and accountability set by Ministers; often this is defined in specific legislation setting up each body. They employ their own staff, who are not civil servants. Accounts Commission for Scotland Architecture and Design Scotland Bòrd na Gàidhlig Cairngorms National Park Authority Care Inspectorate Children's Hearings Scotland Community Justice Scotland Creative Scotland Crofting Commission David MacBrayne Ltd Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd Highlands and Islands Enterprise Historic Environment Scotland Independent Living Fund Scotland The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority National Galleries of Scotland National Library of Scotland National Museums Scotland NatureScot Police Investigations and Review Commissioner Quality Meat Scotland Redress Scotland Risk Management Authority Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Scottish Agricultural Wages Board Scottish Canals Scottish Children's Reporter Administration Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission Scottish Enterprise Scottish Environment Protection Agency Scottish Funding Council Scottish Futures Trust Scottish Land Commission Scottish Legal Aid Board Scottish Legal Complaints Commission Scottish National Investment Bank Scottish Qualifications Authority Scottish Rail Holdings Scottish Social Services Council Skills Development Scotland South of Scotland Enterprise sportscotland VisitScotland Water Industry Commission for Scotland Zero Waste Scotland
Advisory non-departmental public bodies
Advisory NDPBs are similar to Executive NDPBs, but do not undertake activities directly. They provide independent expert advice to the government and others in relation to particular subject. They do not normally employ staff, with administrative support usually being provided by civil servants. Boundaries Scotland Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland Poverty and Inequality Commission for Scotland Scottish Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards Scottish Commission on Social Security Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel Scottish Law Commission
Tribunals
Tribunals undertake judicial functions, but do not form part of the court system. They are independent of government, and are not responsible for budgets or expenditure other than remuneration for tribunal members. First-tier Tribunal for Scotland Parole Board for Scotland Upper Tribunal for Scotland