Recruitment
The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body advertises for new staff in a variety of ways, including publishing the selection criteria to be used for the selection process.
I thank the SPCB for that response, but my question is really about the level of vacancies that are advertised only internally. Does the SPCB intend to recruit employees primarily from the internal pool of candidates, rather than from the much larger pool of candidates that would result from advertising positions externally?
I thank John Wilson for that supplementary question. Of 338 posts advertised since May 2003, there is an 81 per cent to 19 per cent split in favour of external adverts. When a vacancy in the Scottish Parliament comes up, managers might occasionally decide that there are internal candidates who are specifically suited for the vacancy. In that case, the post is advertised internally and internal candidates can apply. As I said, however, that is unusual, in that 81 per cent of vacancies are advertised outside—somebody in the Parliament could apply for the job as well—and only 19 per cent of vacancies are advertised internally.
Videoconferencing (Committees)
From June 2009 to May 2010 a total of seven committee meetings have used the videoconferencing facilities. In addition, during the same period, the facilities were used on another 10 occasions for other committee business.
Does Mr Johnstone share my disappointment at the low number of full committee meetings that have been videoconferenced? Will he ask the corporate body to encourage committee conveners to make greater use of videoconferencing, both to save costs and as a contribution to carbon reduction targets? Does Mr Johnstone share my view that it is important that the Parliament joins the new revolution in communications technology?
Let me take this opportunity to congratulate the member on his determined pursuit of this matter—it is the third, or perhaps even fourth, time that he has raised it during corporate body questions.
Further to the question and to a question that I have asked the corporate body before, I wonder whether we could discuss the issue of cross-party groups. The last time that I asked whether the videoconferencing facilities were available to cross-party groups, I was told no, because the groups are not primary parliamentary functions. I will not ask the same question again, because I know that I will get the same answer, but, given the small numbers and the fact that the use of the equipment is pretty low, will the corporate body reconsider its policy? A significant number of people in Aberdeen have a professional interest in the cross-party group on obesity, which I convene, and they cannot get here for meetings.
I accept that the member has asked the question before and, sadly, I will give him the same answer, which is that the videoconferencing facilities, like all other SPCB resources, are provided to facilitate and enable parliamentary business. Section 6.4 of the code of conduct for members of the Scottish Parliament lays out the rules for cross-party groups, and rule 13 outlines the limitations on the use of parliamentary facilities. If the member would like to raise the matter and ask for it be discussed more widely, I suggest that he puts it in writing, and it will be given due consideration.
Video and Audio Output (Standards and Licensing)
I shall deal with the question on open standards first. The SPCB is considering adopting open standards. Under our present webcasting contract all chamber business can be downloaded by external users, but it is restricted to the Windows Media file format. The contract is due to be re-let next summer, and we will consider using open standards.
I am grateful for the clarification on the question of licensing, as the contents of a debate should be available in text or in audio-video format for the people of Scotland to make use of as they see fit, including to copy freely.
I thank Patrick Harvie for his keen interest in the matter. As I say, the contract is due to be re-let next summer and we will consider using open standards. We will also consider the points that Patrick Harvie has made. Given the fact that the member seems to have a particular expertise and interest in the matter, our officials who are considering the re-letting of the contract will be very pleased to speak to him about the issue.
Staff Salaries
None.
Given the fact that four permanent employees in the core directorate of the Scottish Government have a base salary in excess of the First Minister’s combined salary and the fact that 41 members of staff in the Parliament are paid more than the basic MSP salary, although they do not reach the salary of the First Minister, what form of job evaluation and appraisal is undertaken to ensure value for taxpayers’ money?
I am not sure about the first part of that question. I actually said that no SPCB employee earns more than the First Minister’s combined salary.
I suspend the meeting until 2.35, when the next item of business is due to start.