Brown calls for Ministers to stop appearing before Parliamentary Committees 'mob-handed'

Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Robert Brown MSP has demanded that the Scottish Government stop appearing before Scottish Parliament Committees ‘mob handed’.

Mr Brown’s comments followed a meeting of the Justice Committee yesterday where no less than 12 officials appeared to be in support of the Justice Secretary for one single agenda item.

Commenting Mr Brown said:

“I have been concerned for some time about the size of the phalanx of officials that the Justice Secretary seems to require to support him before Parliamentary committees.

“A few weeks ago the committee dealt with a number of separate, largely non controversial statutory instruments. The numbers of different officials backing the Justice Secretary were 4, 2, 5 and 3 respectively – a total of 14.

“Government Ministers clearly require expert civil service support, but the situation is getting ridiculous. How many civil servants are needed to dance on the head of a pin or are needed to support the Minister on straightforward issues.

“It is clear that the Scottish Government needs to look urgently at its practice and identity and act on the clear savings that could be made in this area.”