[Edit] Public bodies

Main article: Scottish public bodies

The Scottish Government is also responsible for a large number of non-departmental public bodies. These include executive NDPBs (e.g. Scottish Enterprise); advisory NDPBs (e.g. the Scottish Law Commission); tribunals (e.g. the Children’s Panel and Additional Support Needs Tribunals for Scotland); and nationalised industries (e.g. Scottish Water). These are staffed by public servants, rather than civil servants.

The Scottish Government is also responsible for some other public bodies that are not classed as non-departmental public bodies, such as NHS Boards, Visiting Committees for Scottish Penal Establishments or HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland.

[Edit] Change of name

The Scottish Executive's original logo, shown with English and Scottish Gaelic caption. The logo was replaced in September 2007, with the name changed to "Scottish Government", and the Flag of Scotland used instead of the Royal Arms.

In January 2001, the then First Minister Henry McLeish suggested changing the official name of the executive arm from "Scottish Executive" to "Scottish Government". The reaction from the UK Government and from some Labour Party members and Scottish Labour MPs was allegedly hostile.^[16] This reaction was in contrast to a 2001 public survey by then-Labour chief whip Tom McCabe, which showed that only 29% of the Scottish public wanted the title Scottish Executive to remain.^[17]

Scottish politicians, including the Labour First Minister, had often referred to the Executive as the government and this trend increased following the 2007 election, when politicians from throughout the political spectrum referred to the new administration as the Scottish government. On 2 September 2007, the government announced that the Scottish Executive was to be re-branded as the Scottish Government.

The renaming was decided unilaterally by the minority government; as a consequence, the SNP was criticised by the three Unionist opposition parties for acting without allowing for parliamentary scrutiny, debate or approval of their plan. However, the term "Scottish Government" has become common usage by all such parties.^[18]

"Scottish Executive" remains the legal name according to the wording of section 44(1) of the Scotland Act 1998.^[17] Neither the Scottish Executive nor the Scottish Parliament is able to change the legal name, as this would require Westminster to pass an amendment to the Scotland Act. However, the phrase "Scottish Administration" can also be used as a legal name for the devolved administration, under section 126(6) of the 1998 Act.

As such, the UK Government has, in the vast majority of cases, adopted the new term of Government,^[19] while in some cases using the phrase "Scottish Administration".^[20] The official Gaelic title, "Riaghaltas na h-Alba" has always meant "Government of Scotland".

At the same time that the Scottish Government began to use its new name, a new emblem was adopted. The earlier version featured the old name and a version of the Royal Arms for Scotland, but without the motto, the helm, the mantling, the crest, the war-cry above the crest, or the flags of Scotland and England carried by the supporters. In the rendering used, both supporters appeared to be crowned with the Crown of Scotland, whereas in the Royal Arms, the Scottish unicorn is usually shown crowned with the Scottish Crown, and the English lion with St Edward's Crown.

In the September 2007 rebranding, this depiction of the Royal Arms was replaced by one of the Flag of Scotland. However, the Royal Arms are still used by the Government for some official documents, such as directions issued in exercise of powers provided by legislation