Lord Pentland explains role in appointing judicial chairs of public inquiries

There is currently an investigation into the cost-effectiveness of public inquiries.

While the power to select and appointment the chair of a public inquiry lies solely with Scottish ministers, Lord Pentland has provided MSPs with an insight into the process followed, and how judges may be approached to gauge expressions of interest.

He says he may also express a view on whether appointing a judge is the best course of action, and whether the desired seniority is necessary for the particular task required.

Lord Pentland writes in his letter he welcomes the opportunity to explain his role in the process, as well as the chance “to bring clarity and dispel any misconceptions as to what actually happens”.

Speaking at the launch of the parliamentary investigation, Finance and Public Administration Committee convener Kenneth Gibson MSP said: “Public inquiries often involve significant sums of money. It’s an issue our members have raised concerns over.

“No Holyrood committee has examined the topic of statutory public inquiries before – in any level of depth – so this parliamentary investigation is timely and appropriate.”

Mr Gibson added: “We want to examine whether public inquiries represent value for money, and whether spending controls can ever, realistically, be applied given the independent nature of inquiries.

“This has the potential to be a really interesting piece of work given the significant sums of money that public inquiries often involve.”