§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will place in the Library his response to the letter written to him by Helen Stevens, Negotiating Officer for Scotland of IPMS, in relation to the appointment of the Deputy Keeper of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery; [39372]
(2) if he will set up a review of the means by which appointments are made in the National Galleries of Scotland. [39373]
§ Mr. GalbraithI am arranging for a copy of the reply which I issued today to be placed in the Library. No appointment has been made to the position of Deputy Keeper at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, but a new Assistant Keeper took up post in December 1997.
The National Galleries of Scotland Act 1906 provides that the staff of the National Galleries of Scotland (NGS) are not to be regarded as Crown servants and that responsibility for the appointment of employees lies with the Board of Trustees. In addition, the appointment of the Director requires the approval of the Secretary of State.
The staff are appointed on terms and conditions determined by the Board, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State. Under the terms and conditions of NGS staff, employment by the Board is subject to the Civil Service Management Code which incorporates appropriate procedures for appointing staff. It is the responsibility of the Board to secure the proper application of those procedures and I therefore do not consider that a review is necessary.