Scrutiny and the Public

At the start of 2007, Ipsos, in collaboration with a network of academics, was commissioned by the Scottish Government to conduct qualitative research to explore public perceptions of scrutiny of public services. The aim of the research was to increase understanding of public perspectives of external scrutiny regimes and the findings were used to inform the Independent Review of Regulation, Audit, Inspection and Complaints Handling of Public Services (‘the Crerar Review’). The research involved a series of reconvened focus groups with service users and the general public. Key themes included: awareness, understanding and experience of scrutiny procedures, expectations of what the role and purpose of external scrutiny should be and what it should deliver, views on public involvement in scrutiny processes, and views on how the current arrangements might be made more responsive to service users and the public.

Download full report.

Technical details

Seven sets of reconvened focus groups and one single focus group were conducted with service users and the general public between 6th March and 25th April 2007.