Other bodies who can help
Our office enforces and promotes freedom of information (FOI) law in Scotland. We provide advice and guidance on using FOI to access information from Scotland's public bodies and investigate appeals if things go wrong.
If your concern doesn't relate to our role, there are a number of other organisations that may be able to help.
This page has details of organisations who can provide helpful advice, guidance and support in all sorts of circumstances.
Maintaining trust in public services
In most cases, if you have an issue, concern or complaint about a public service or public body in Scotland, you should raise it with the organisation in the first instance.
Most public bodies have a procedure for dealing with problems or complaints, and issues can normally be resolved through this route.
However, if an issue is unresolved, or if you're looking for more information or advice, the organisations below may help you take the next step towards a resolution.
Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO)
The SPSO is the final stage for complaints about most public services in Scotland, including services provided by councils, the NHS, prisons, the Scottish Government, water providers, housing associations, universities and colleges. The SPSO can investigate complaints once an individual has completed an organisation's complaints process.
Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
The ICO is responsible for enforcing data protection law across the whole of the UK. Data protection law governs how organisations must handle the personal information they hold, while also giving you a right of access to information that is held about you. As well as enforcing data protection across the UK, the ICO is also responsible for enforcing freedom of information (FOI) law for public bodies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 'UK-wide' public bodies that operate in Scotland.
Visit the ICO's website to find out more.
Scottish Biometrics Commissioner
The Scottish Biometrics Commissioner promotes lawful practices in relation to any 'biometric data' that is held for law enforcement purposes. 'Biometric data' can include fingerprint data, blood samples and DNA samples which can be used to identify people. The Scottish Biometrics Commissioner can investigate complaints in relation to the inappropriate use of biometric data.
Visit the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner's website to find out more.
As in other situations, concerns about the actions of an elected representative or board member should normally be raised with the organisation in the first instance. Local councils, the Scottish Parliament and public bodies will typically have codes of conduct that must be followed, and organisations will consider possible failures to comply.
Other organisations that provide support are:
Ethical Standards Commissioner
The Ethical Standards Commissioner investigates complaints about the behaviour of MSPs, local authority councillors, and board members of public bodies and about lobbyists. The Ethical Standards Commissioner also regulates how people are appointed to the boards of public bodies in Scotland.
Visit the Ethical Standards Commissioner's website to find out more.
The Standards Commission for Scotland
The Standards Commission for Scotland is responsible for promoting the codes of conduct covering the behaviour of councillors and those appointed to the boards of Scottish public bodies. The Standards Commission also adjudicates on alleged breaches of the codes of conduct.
Visit the Standards Commission for Scotland website to find out more.
Equality Advisory Support Service (EASS)
The EASS gives advice to individuals across the whole of Great Britain on equality and discrimination issues, can explain the rights provided by discrimination legislation and provide related guidance, support and advice.
Visit the EASS website to find out more.
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
The EHRC enforces equality legislation on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation across the Scotland, England and Wales. They use a range of powers to do so, provide advice and guidance to individuals, and can take enforcement action to address significant breaches of rights.
Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC)
PIRC can review the way policing bodies in Scotland handle complaints made about them by members of the public.
The Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland (CYPCS)
The CYPCS works to promote and protect the human rights of children and young people in Scotland. The Commissioner also has the power to investigate some issues affecting children's human rights.
Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)
OSCR is responsible for regulating Scotland's charities. This includes community groups, religious charities, schools, universities, grant-giving charities and major care providers. Their role includes conducing inquiries where concerns have been raised about the way in which a charity is being run.
Care Inspectorate
The Care Inspectorate is the national regulator for care services in Scotland. It can consider matters related to the standards of care provided by registered care services.
Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR)
While the SHR isn't able to deal with individual complaints, it can consider failures by landlords that affect a group of social landlord tenants. This might include, for example, situations where a social landlord (for example a housing association or local authority) has failed to consult with tenants on a rent increase, or is consistently not carrying out repairs when it should, or not responding formally to complaints.
If your concern affects a group of social landlord tenants, visit the SHR's website to find out more.
If your concern relates to an individual complaint (e.g. one which affects just you or your home) you can contact the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (after first following your landlord's internal complaints procedure).
Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
SEPA works to protect and maintain a safe, healthy and sustainable environment for the people of Scotland. You can report certain environmental issues, such as pollution incidents or reservoir emergencies, with SEPA.
Visit SEPA's website to find out more.
Other environmental issues may fall within the remit other organisations. SEPA has a handy signposting service for other environmental concerns.
Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC)
The SLCC are the first point of contact for all complaints about lawyers in Scotland. You can contact the SLCC if you feel you've had an inadequate service from a lawyer, or if you're unhappy about the way a lawyer has behaved.
Rail Ombudsman
The Rail Ombudsman can help with unresolved customer complaints about rail service providers, including ScotRail.
Further advice and support
Click below for details of other organisations that can provide advice, support or guidance on a wide range of topics.
Citizen's Advice Scotland provide free, confidential and independent advice on a wide range of issues. They are independently run and staffed by volunteers.
Visit the Citizens Advice Scotland website to find out more.
advice.scot is an advice hub run by the charity Advice Direct Scotland. They provide people with practical consumer advice and information.
The SIAA can direct people towards organisations that can provide support in situations where people may need someone independent to 'advocate' for them - that is, to speak up for them, or stand alongside them to ensure their voices are heard in decisions which affect their lives.
Elected representatives
Your local MP, MSP or councillor may also be able to offer support to address an issue of concern.
MPs can offer support if your issue relates to defence, employment, immigration and visas, international development, trade and industry and some social security and tax issues.
Everyone in Scotland is represented by one MP.
Find out how to contact your local Member of Parliament (MP) here.
MSPs can help with issues that the Scottish Parliament has the power to make decisions on. This includes education and training, the environment, housing, health and social services, policing and justice, local government, transport, agriculture and fisheries and some aspects of social security and taxation.
Everyone in Scotland is represented by 8 MSPs.
Find out how to contact your local Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) here.
Councillors can help with issues relating to your local area. These include local public transport, local planning issues, local education services, park and leisure services, rubbish collection and neighbourhood disputes.
Find your local councillor on the mygov.scot website.