Questions and answers

Question reference: S6O-01060

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the effectiveness of fatal accident inquiries into deaths in custody.

Question reference: S6W-07859

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 4 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish any findings of Strathesk Resolutions as a result of its mediation processes between employers and trade unions in Scotland’s colleges.

The Scottish Government has not commissioned Strathesk Resolutions to undertake a mediation process between employers and trade unions.

The organisation has undertaken a Lessons Learned exercise to identify factors that have led to dispute in the college sector in recent years, and has provided recommendations on the future operations of national bargaining in Scotland.

The report, alongside the Scottish Government's response, will be published in due course.

Question reference: S6W-07984

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 29 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Social Security Scotland and (b) the Department for Work and Pensions regarding redeployment of staff affected by the reported planned office cuts at (i) Ebury House, Aberdeen and (ii) Victoria Road, Kirkcaldy.

On 17 March Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) announced their plan to close a number of back-office sites across the UK and collocate others. The Scottish Government was not consulted prior to the announcement, however, have subsequently contacted DWP to gain an understanding of the impact of this change. DWP outlined they do not intend to reduce staff headcount through this change process. Should the situation change, the Scottish Government stands ready to provide the support necessary including through Partnership Action for Continuing Employment, (PACE), which provides individual skills development and employability support.

Question reference: S6W-07985

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 29 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Social Security Scotland and (b) the Department for Work and Pensions regarding the relocation of staff affected by the reported planned office cuts at (i) Whitburn Road, Bathgate, (ii) Lindsay House, Dundee, (iii) Callendar Gate, Falkirk, (iv) Radnor House, Clydebank, (v) Springburn, Glasgow and (vi) St Ninians Road, Stirling.

Question reference: S6W-07986

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 29 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to hold any discussions with (a) Social Security Scotland and (b) the Department for Work and Pensions regarding redundancies, redeployment or relocation of staff affected by the reported planned office cuts at eight sites across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-07652

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 March 2022
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 28 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether all apprenticeships in the public sector pay the Living Wage.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to promoting Fair Work practices throughout Scotland and will continue to press the UK Government for the full set of powers around employment law in order to allow us to fully deliver our Fair Work ambitions, including replacing the National Minimum Wage (NMW) with the real Living Wage as set out in the Fair Work Action Plan. The Scottish Government also supports the abolition of the apprentice rate and a move towards the real Living Wage for all apprentices.

The Scottish Government, as an employer, has an on-going commitment to supporting payment of the real Living Wage in our public sector pay policy in a manner consistent with the terms of the living wage foundation accreditation scheme.

The pay policy applies directly to staff within over 50 public bodies, however the Scottish Government would encourage all public sector workforces to take a similar approach.

Question reference: S6W-07903

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 28 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) local authorities and (b) other public sector organisations will be required to bid for services such as providing care or social services under its National Care Service draft proposals.

Scottish Ministers are still considering the wealth of information provided through the recent National Care Service (NCS) public consultation.

In that consultation we sought views on a remit for the NCS to develop and manage a National Commissioning and Procurement Structure of Standards and Processes for ethical commissioning and procuring of social care services and supports. We will develop the approach to national and local level ethical commissioning and procurement with partners, stakeholders and those who delivery care and receive care.

Local authority and other public service social care provision will remain important in delivering social care.

Question reference: S6W-07907

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 28 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether any companies that currently deliver social care in Scotland will be permitted to bid under its National Care Service draft proposals.

Scottish Ministers are still considering the wealth of information provided through the recent National Care Service (NCS) public consultation.

In that consultation we sought views on a remit for the NCS to develop and manage a National Commissioning and Procurement Structure of Standards and Processes for ethical commissioning and procuring of social care services and supports. We will develop the approach to national and local level ethical commissioning and procurement with partners, stakeholders and those who deliver and receive care.

Question reference: S6W-07781

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 28 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met COSLA to discuss progressing the introduction of a national minimum allowance for foster carers, and when it next plans to meet COSLA to discuss this.

Question reference: S6W-07904

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 28 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) local authorities and (b) other public sector organisations will have preferred bidder status where Community Health and Social Care Boards procure services, as set out in its National Care Service draft proposals.

Scottish Ministers are still considering the wealth of information provided through the recent National Care Service (NCS) public consultation.

In that consultation we sought views on a remit for the NCS to develop and manage a National Commissioning and Procurement Structure of Standards and Processes for ethical commissioning and procuring of social care services and supports. We will develop the approach to national and local level ethical commissioning and procurement with partners, stakeholders and those who deliver and receive care.

Local authority and other public service social care provision will remain important in delivering social care.

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Chamber and committees