Memorandum of understanding between HM Chief Inspector of Prosecution in Scotland, the Lord Advocate and the Scottish Government's Director, Justice

The Lord Advocate

The Lord Advocate will continue to answer to Parliament for the functions of the IPS.

The Chief Inspector will provide the Lord Advocate with any information necessary to answer Parliamentary Questions or deal with any other matters for which he/she is responsible. Replies to Parliamentary Questions will be published in the Official Report of the Scottish Parliament.

The Director, Justice

The Director of Justice is appointed by the Principal Accountable Officer for the Scottish Administration as Accountable Officer for the budget on which the IPS’s expenditure is borne.  He/she is personally accountable to the Scottish Parliament for the propriety and regularity of relevant public finances and ensuring that resources are used economically, efficiently and effectively. In addition:

• he/she is responsible for ensuring that the financial and other management controls applied by the IPS are appropriate and sufficient to safeguard public funds, and for monitoring the IPS’s compliance with those controls

• he/she is responsible for ensuring that there is an annual appraisal of the Chief Inspector

The responsibilities of a Director General Accountable Officer are set out in more detail in the Scottish Public Finance Manual.