Introduction

This is the history of the petition, and in the main is taken from documents which are available on the Scottish Parliament website[s].

In fact it is the last petition mostly written by the late Secretary Dr Richard Burton. However it was conceived by a former lady member of Accountability Scotland. Her idea appears to have been to initiate the following process, following the failure of her complaint about what she considered to be the bullying of her children at school. The process suggested was as follows:

• Write a survey for anyone who had experience of the SPSO, successful or not, to record what they thought. The survey was written using a model run by Google.
• To conduct the survey. This required advertising it by word of mouth, on our web site and Facebook page.
• To analyse and write a report on the results.
• To petition the Scottish Parliament with the intention that certain cases be individually reviewed by an indepenndent external person or body. The former lady member hoped that her case would be chosen, and it would be found that the SPSO had wrongly decided.

What happened in fact was as follows:

• Dr Richard Burton oversaw the creation of the survey. There was deal of controversy over the questions, and eventually all "leading questions" were properly rephrased.
• The survey was successfully launched, and the results collated by the Treasurer.
• The writing of the report was quite difficult as the former lady member had her own very strong ideas as to how she wanted it written. Eventually common sense prevailed and a "normal" format used with the following main headings:
  • Executive Summary [1 page]
  • Introduction [2 pages]
  • Methodology and Conclusions [2 pages]
  • Recommendations [1 page]
  • The Questionnaire & Answers [19 pages]
• The report is available on the Accountability Scotland web site in the Members area. It references several Accountability Scotland papers which are on the web site and publicly available.
• The petition was drawn up and was eventually agreed, even by the lady member under protest.
• It was submitted.

Petition History

The history of the petition before the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee of the Scottish Parliament [CPPPC] is as follows:

• By 17th March 2020, the Accountability Scotland report supporting the petition was finalised and published . Click here to see it.
• On 7 September 2022, the petition was lodged , and was entitled "Create an independent review of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman", and referenced as PE1964 [if searching you may need to use the phrase PE01964]
• On 23 October 2020 Dr Burton sadly succumbed to Coronavirus complications.
• 7th December 2022: The petition was first heard by the CPPPC. Its intent was summarised by SPICe as follows:
  • investigate complaints made against the SPSO;
  • assess the quality of its work and decisions;
  • establish whether the current legislation governing the SPSO is fit for purpose.
  • The SPICe briefing is at Annexe B
    Annexe C is the CPPPC's initial response dated 26th October 2022.
    Annexe D and E are futher submissions made in support of the petition. It includes one from Bob Dorris MSP.
• 8th March 2023. Accountability Scotland Response to the CPPPC's initial response.
• 28th June 2023. Committee Meeting to review petition.
• Early 2024. The Committee were advised of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee's meeting of December 5, 2023 at which the SPSO appeared to support the petition in part.
• 15th May 2024. Committee Meeting to review petition. 
• 5th March 2025. Final review of petition at which it was dismissed - for need and lack of resources.