Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Official Report 933KB pdf

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Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Question Time

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Budgetary Savings

1. Prior to my question, I feel that I should offer an apology, as this is the education minister’s literacy action plan day: the syntax of my question appears very strangled, and for that I apologise.

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it has identified a figure or a percentage of total expenditure feasible to achieve the budgetary savings it has identified as necessary. (S3O-11767)

The SPCB has been planning on the basis that it will reduce its overall budget in line with the real-terms reduction in the Scottish budget, while seeking to deliver efficient parliamentary services to members and the public. We are currently reviewing the outcome of the United Kingdom comprehensive spending review, which reported last week, and the SPCB will present its budget submission to the Finance Committee on 23 November.

He would say that, wouldn’t he, Presiding Officer? I wonder whether the member can assure me that the non-Executive bills unit will be judged no more harshly than any of the other departments in the Parliament. If we are to serve the public and to enhance the quality of the work that is contributed by the members of the Parliament, NEBU is essential.

The degree of harshness is perhaps subjective, but I assure the member that we will do our best to ensure that the approach that is taken is as fair as it can be to all sections of the Parliament and all members.

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Consultants

2. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how much has been spent on consultants in the last financial year and in what specialist areas of expertise. (S3O-11769)

In the financial year 2009-10, just over £59,000 was spent on consultants. The bulk of that was spent on business continuity support. Most of the remainder was spent on information technology advice, and £2,600 was spent on management consultancy advice.

What steps are being considered to reduce the use of consultants and consequently the expenditure on consultants in future years?

The breakdown of that expenditure in 2009-10 shows that the vast bulk was spent on business continuity support and initiatives to restructure the management arrangements within the Parliament. All of that work was aimed at reducing costs in the medium to long term. The focus has been very much on reducing the need for external support, and any external support has been focused on a further attempt to reduce the costs of the Parliament.

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Disability Discrimination Acts (Toilets)

3. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it is satisfied that all toilets in the Parliament complex are fully compliant with relevant disability discrimination legislation. (S3O-11768)

The answer is yes—the SPCB is satisfied that all toilets comply with regulations under the Disability Discrimination Acts. However, we are aware that regulation requirements change over time. For that reason, we have mechanisms in place continually to monitor and review our existing practices to identify where further improvements can be made. With that in mind, we have made a number of modifications to the toilets in the Parliament building as part of our on-going commitment to the promotion of disability equality. For example, the door runners have been replaced and new hinges have been installed in all accessible toilets with folding doors to make it easier for the doors to open and close. We have also installed a changing places toilet in the Holyrood complex to improve access for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

Does the member share my concern about those toilets for the disabled that are situated on the committee room levels, where the door opens with a middle hinge? The handle is so small that I cannot envisage anyone with a weak grip being able to lock the door. As a relatively able-bodied person, I find it difficult to shut the door, so I am sure that a wheelchair user must find it almost impossible. Furthermore, when the door is shut, the only way in which people outside can tell whether the toilet is in use is by pulling the handle from the outside, causing the door to move in a way that alarms the person in the toilet. I have heard that one lady MSP sings loudly when she is in such a toilet to let those outside know that it is occupied. Finally, when the toilet door is opened, the room is in darkness, so it is impossible to distinguish between the light and alarm switches, causing consternation if the alarm switch is used by accident. Will the corporate body sort those things out as a matter of urgency?

The member raises a number of issues, all of which are good points to make. Officials investigated the accessible toilets that are located next to committee rooms 4 and 5 and on the other committee room levels, which revealed that some improvements were required. Improvements were made regarding the door runners, new hinges and so on. However, having used some of the disabled toilets myself—perhaps I should sing as well on the appropriate occasions—I take the points that the member has made. The suggestion is that we will have a look at his concerns and get back to him.

That ends questions to the corporate body. I remind members that the emergency bill now proceeds to stage 2 and that members have until 3.45 to lodge amendments with the clerks in the legislation team. The Committee of the Whole Parliament will meet at 4.20 to consider the bill at stage 2.