Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010: statement for 2010-11

Scottish Law Commission Return for Financial Year 2010/11

Under the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 we have, along with other public bodies in Scotland, a duty to publish annual public statements relating to our expenditure in the following areas: 

• Public relations
• Overseas travel
• Hospitality and entertainment
• External consultancy

There are further duties to publish certain information relating to the purchasing of goods, the remuneration of employees and the steps we have taken to improve efficiency, effectiveness and economy in our performance as well as the promotion of sustainable growth. 

Our statement covering the financial year 2010-11 is set out below: 

 In taking steps to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and economy in the exercise of our functions, we: 

• Joined the Scottish Government computer network (SCOTS), ensuring greater long-term stability and efficiency in the operation of our IT systems. 
• Redeveloped our website and intranet inhouse using an open source content management system, and migrated the integrated site to a new, higher specification and more efficient, but cheaper, server.  
• Developed a travel plan as part of our ongoing environmental strategy, aimed at promoting more sustainable travel choices for business and commuting. The greater use of video conferencing as an alternative to long-distance travel is an important element in this plan.