Drug dealers & criminals could take part in Scottish Government’s public policy panels

DRUG dealers and other criminals could be invited to take part in Holyrood panels on major issues like drug deaths due to a lack of vetting, we can reveal.

A lack of vetting means virtually anyone can take part in the groups set up to give ordinary Scots a way of chipping in on national policy.

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The only exclusions for participation in the “People’s Panels” are MSPs, MPs, local councillors and government officials. 

The Scottish Sun on Sunday understands that concerns have been raised behind the scenes about criminals being invited and potential damage to the parliament’s reputation.

A Holyrood source said: “It won’t be long until the parliament accidentally invites a paedophile or a convicted drug dealer to take part in one of these. 

“It is a disaster waiting to happen.”

No moves to vet individuals have taken place despite concerns being known for some time.

Holyrood’s website says people taking part in the People’s Panels “learn about issues, discuss them with one another, and then make recommendations about what should happen and how things should change.”

Three of these panels have taken place already – with the first on “participation” – costing the taxpayer £35,900.

The second – at a cost of £47,996 – was a “Climate Change Act People’s Panel”.

And the latest is on “Reducing Drug Harm”, with costs yet to be finalised due to the fact it is ongoing.

The latest drugs panel was offering potential participants £420 to take part. Twenty-five people were later chosen after 5,000 random invitation letters were sent at random to houses across Scotland.

Last month, we told how retired shopkeeper Ian Simmonds, 75, was astonished to be invited to take part in the drugs panel – blasting it as a “talking shop” and a “waste of money”.

Mr Simmonds said: “I thought it was a joke or some sort of scam at first. Who are they sending them to?”

The drugs panel will take place between October 25 to 27, and November 15 to 17, with the citizens producing a report on what the “key issues” are, alongside “recommendations for action”.

Holyrood officials say those invited to take part are “randomly selected” to make sure they are a “diverse and broadly representative selection of the Scottish public”.

They add that no “advance vetting” takes place for anyone “participating in Parliamentary work”, adding staff “do not consider that it is necessary to treat participants in people’s panels any differently.”

A Scottish Parliament spokesman said: “The Parliament is continually seeking to improve how it engages with people and wants Scotland’s people to be at the heart of its scrutiny work. 

“People’s Panels are an established method used by democracies across the globe and as is standard, those participating will be selected at random whether they have experience of drug use or not.”

On vetting, the spokesman added: “The only exclusions are, for example, elected officials and Scottish Government staff who would not be appropriate as panel members.”