Garden Furniture
The SPCB plans to install external furniture on the paved area in the members’ garden. However, in light of discussions on having a members’ coffee lounge downstairs rather than upstairs and information that has been imparted in that respect, the furniture will take the form of tables and chairs rather than benches.
I am very pleased to hear about the provision of some outdoor furniture, which I hope will afford staff, visitors and—from time to time, though obviously not too often—members the opportunity of appreciating the building’s outdoor environment. However, I still make a plea for consideration in due course of the odd bench in the outdoor area.
Annabelle Ewing is absolutely right to suggest that we take advantage of the Parliament’s beautiful garden. Perhaps we should get a bit tougher and, instead of parasols, use big umbrellas.
Information Technology (Members Services)
Like most other modern organisations, the Scottish Parliament is reliant on IT for the effective and efficient delivery of business. Recent changes to the IT systems have included increasing the resilience and speed of our voice and data systems to provide greater capacity for internet services such as e-mail, web browsing and remote access, and to reduce costs.
I thank the member for his extensive response. Following changes to the Scottish Parliament website, members of the public are no longer able to access MSPs’ work via the theyworkforyou.com website, even though they can still receive notification of what MPs and Northern Ireland Assembly members are doing. It is my understanding that work has been carried out to create data in a format that external organisations can automatically use, but there is no indication that www.theyworkforyou.com does not cover the Scottish Parliament.
I know that the member takes a great interest in these matters. He is right to say that theyworkforyou.com helps to publicise the work of the Parliament and members’ individual contributions. One of the advantages of the changes to our website design is that they will allow us to work to ensure that information is available to external organisations. However, the current format of our data means that external organisations cannot automatically get the information that they wish to have. The member makes a very good point, which I will raise at the next meeting of the corporate body.
Scottish Beer
That is obviously a popular question.
I draw members’ attention to my declaration of interests, which states that I am a member of the Campaign for Real Ale.
I am more than willing to do that as long as it does not compromise the wine, as I am not a beer drinker.
External Screening Facility
In 2007, the corporate body commissioned and received official security advice about the measures in place at the Parliament in relation to current risks and threats. In 2011, we asked our security adviser to review the recommendations received in 2007. We received clear advice from our adviser, other official security sources and the police that the risks and threats that had been identified were still relevant.
I understand the sensitivities involved in this issue, but is the member able to share with the chamber the identified at-risk groups that use the Parliament and the responsibilities the corporate body faces in discharging that risk?
I know that Mr Pearson takes a great interest in security matters because of his background as a senior police officer in Scotland and London. The corporate body has a duty of care to MSPs and staff, and to the thousands of people who visit the Parliament every year. We have to live in the real world and acknowledge that, regrettably, the Parliament is a target for a small minority of obsessed individuals. We have to get the balance right between managing an open and accessible Parliament and our legal and security responsibilities to the Scottish public. No final decision will be made on the project until after the summer recess.
Living Wage
Following questions raised by members at previous corporate body question times, we have considered whether the corporate body should become a living wage employer. I confirm that all directly employed corporate body employees and agency-recruited staff are paid above the living wage. However, our legal advice is that to impose a requirement on contractors for them to pay their staff the living wage may be in breach of European Union regulations. The Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, Alex Neil, has written to the EU to seek clarification on the matter, and we will review our position on becoming a living wage employer when that has been received.
I thank the member for his answer. When will the corporate body ensure that all staff, including contracted staff, are paid above the living wage?
I am grateful for that question from Jenny Marra. I know that she has an interest in and a commitment to this issue. I believe that adopting a living wage policy is essentially a gold standard for an employer. As Jenny Marra identified, the challenge is around our contracted services, which are cleaning and catering. That contract is due for renewal in 2015. Currently, 15 catering staff are paid 5p an hour below the living wage and seven cleaners are paid 35p an hour below that threshold. The key is the EU advice. If the EU advice allows us to make the living wage a contractual obligation, that would be a matter for the corporate body to consider in the future.
How many agency staff are currently employed by the Scottish Parliament?
I will get back to the member on that particular point.
Event Costs (Small Charities)
There are no costs imposed by the Parliament to organisations to hold an event here as the SPCB does not charge for room hire, plasma screens, laptops, or the in-built public address system and so on. Any costs incurred by organisations are in respect of additional services hired in for their events at their own discretion—catering or audio-visual services, for example.
I thank Linda Fabiani for her answer. I recognise the professional and courteous service offered by the Parliament events team to small and large organisations alike. When organisations invite people into the Parliament they like to offer hospitality. Currently, the least expensive package of canapés and drinks is more than £17 per person. Could the SPCB consider a sliding scale of charges for organisations based on their income and size?
I cannot give an immediate answer to that, because there is an awful lot behind that question and an awful lot of work there. We also have to consider the relationship that we have with the contractors who provide those services.
Procurement
I commend the member for the support that she has given to procurement opportunities for supported businesses.
I thank Mary Scanlon, a member of the corporate body, for that answer, and I commend the corporate body for its continuing commitment to make some inroads into this important aspect of our work in the Parliament.
The issue of procurement has been raised by several members. I will raise the point about working with Fergus Ewing, and I have also had an offer from the head of procurement. Liam McArthur and I would be happy to discuss the issue further with Helen Eadie.