Question reference: S6W-12359
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 16 November 2022
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Current status: Answered by Jackson Carlaw (on behalf of the SPCB) on 30 November 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what support it has been providing to Scottish Parliament staff during the cost of living crisis, and what further support it will be providing to staff over the course of the winter period.
Answer
The SPCB is committed to supporting its staff with the cost of living and is putting in place a range of measures to support its staff. The SPCB believes that this is the right thing to do at this very difficult time, recognising that this is an urgent priority for staff.
The SPCB has agreed to make a cost-of-living payment to support staff who are most in need during this time. The payment to staff will be made in instalments between December and March with all staff earning £43,662 and below receiving a payment. Staff earning £32,000 (the average UK full time equivalent salary) and less will receive a higher payment. This is because research by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) demonstrates that staff earning at this level and below are most impacted by cost-of-living pressures.
This approach to making one-off, non-consolidated payments to staff is in common with other employers, including His Majesty the King.
The SPCB is putting in place other measures such as access to independent financial advice and financial wellbeing workshops.
The SPCB has discussed this with its recognised trade union partners and the information has been shared with Scottish Parliament staff.