Chamber and committees

Through the Scottish Government’s Fair Work policy, all employers across Scotland, which would include those involved in the Offshore Wind sector, are encouraged to adopt Fair Work principles. The Fair Work Action Plan asks employers right across Scotland to play their part, while setting out what support is available to help them realise the benefits of fair, diverse, and inclusive workplace practices.

Scotland’s offshore wind sector is expected to generate significant employment opportunities. Based on evidence available across a number of individual studies, the Scottish Government’s Offshore Wind Focus paper estimates the Offshore Wind sector in Scotland could support as many as 10,400 to 54,000 jobs. We do not hold specific figures on the number of shore-side and seafaring jobs in Scotland that will be supported by the construction of the Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm.

The Scottish Government remains committed to supporting the growth of Scotland’s offshore wind sector, investing up to £500 million over five years to support market certainty, and help create a highly productive, competitive offshore wind economy with thousands of new jobs.

Seafarer employment legislation is reserved and a matter for the UK Government. Guidance published by the UK Government in 2018, and updated following 2020 legislation, can be found here: Minimum wage: seafarers and other people working at sea - GOV.UK.

As such, no assessment of the pay and conditions of seafarers working on vessels at Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm has been made by the Scottish Government.

The SPCB’s approach to partnerships and accreditations is governed by our Diversity and Inclusion commitments and aims. The SPCB assesses accreditations having regard to issues such as budget and resource implications (including staff time to achieve the accreditation), alignment with the SPCB’s purpose and values, and the extent to which the accreditation supports the delivery of strategic aims and alignment with our policies, practices and procedures. While the SPCB does not intend to apply for Period Positive Workplace certification at this time, the SPCB is confident, having reviewed the Period Positive Workplace implementation plan, that it already has arrangements in place which are recognised as best practice for an inclusive, period positive workplace. This includes providing free period products in all toilets within Holyrood, a Period and Menopause policy and guidance for managers in supporting their staff. In order to ensure that this continues to be the case, the SPCB is committed to reviewing its Period and Menopause Policy so that it continues to meet the needs of its staff.

As part of the commitment to be an open and transparent government, we promote the disclosure of names and salary details of senior public sector staff. Since October 2010, Scottish non-departmental public bodies have been asked to list the names and salary details of members of their senior leadership teams. You can find links to each body’s website at National public bodies: directory or on the Public Sector pay website at Pay transparency - Public sector pay.

The highest salary currently paid is £240,000 for the Chief Executive of the Scottish National Investment Bank. This is also the figure published in the Bank’s Annual Report 2024. Senior salary information can be found for individual public body’s on their websites. You can find links to each body’s website at National public bodies: directory.

Given the changes in the Scottish Government’s devolved powers over the last decade, it is not possible to apply direct like with like comparisons in Scottish Government funding levels over the past decade, notably due to the addition of around £5.6 billion of funding for devolved social security benefits.

I undertake regular engagement with Scotland’s national education bodies and teaching professional associations at Chief Executive/General Secretary and official level. Details of these engagements are published on the Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts register.

As with the answer to S6W-34511 on 6 March 2025, I will update parliament at the appropriate time on the work towards a future credit rating and bond issuance during the course of the 2025-26 financial year.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Tables responding to this request have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre under the bib number 65672.