Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-18201

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 1 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17602 by Neil Gray on 12 May 2023, under the Fair Work First Framework on conditionality for public sector grants, what action will be taken where an employer (a) has provided inaccurate evidence in relation to and (b) no longer continues to meet, conditions on (i) effective voice and (ii) Real Living Wage.

We expect all grant recipients to comply with grant conditions. A grant offer letter is a contract, therefore non-compliance is a breach of this, and should be dealt with in line with existing guidance. The Scottish Public Finance Manual sets out the process for applying a clawback condition on funds, if reasonable and appropriate to do so.

We have published updated Fair Work First guidance to support grant recipients and fund administrators to apply the conditions effectively.

Question reference: S6O-02306

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 31 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will initiate an independent review into the use of surgical mesh products within NHS Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-17780

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 24 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will undertake a review of the effectiveness of the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 in protecting NHS staff from physical and verbal assaults.

We have no plans to review the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005.

No-one should be the victim of abuse or violence while at work and assaults on NHS staff are completely unacceptable. The courts have extensive powers to deal robustly with those who attack emergency workers and we strongly encourage staff to report all instances of violent and aggressive behaviour through their local reporting systems. If it is a serious incident, then all efforts must be made to escalate to the Police as quickly as possible.

NHSScotland has joined the multi-agency Your Safety Matters (YSM) initiative, led by Police Scotland. YSM aims to minimise incidents of violence and aggression in workplaces, through campaigns, sharing resources and good practice.

Question reference: S6W-17782

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 19 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in response to reports that police officers were called out 4,442 times to its hospitals and health centres in the past five years.

Scottish Government officials have been assured by NHS Greater Glasgow and Cycle (NHS GGC) that they have the necessary controls, protocols and support in place to protect staff. We will continue to work closely with NHS GGC to monitor the safety and wellbeing of all their staff.

No-one should be the victim of abuse or violence while at work and assaults on NHS staff are completely unacceptable. The courts have extensive powers to deal robustly with those who attack emergency workers and we strongly encourage staff to report all instances of violent and aggressive behaviour through their local reporting systems. If it is a serious incident, then all efforts must be made to escalate to the Police as quickly as possible.

NHSScotland has joined the multi-agency Your Safety Matters (YSM) initiative, led by Police Scotland. YSM aims to minimise incidents of violence and aggression in workplaces, through campaigns, sharing resources and good practice.

Question reference: S6W-17783

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 19 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with NHS Ayrshire and Arran in response to reports that police officers were called out 1,103 times to its hospitals and health centres in the past five years.

Scottish Government officials have been assured by NHS Ayrshire and Arran (NHS A&A) that they have the necessary controls, protocols and support in place to protect staff. We will continue to work closely with NHS A&A to monitor the safety and wellbeing of all their staff.

No-one should be the victim of abuse or violence while at work and assaults on NHS staff are completely unacceptable. The courts have extensive powers to deal robustly with those who attack emergency workers and we strongly encourage staff to report all instances of violent and aggressive behaviour through their local reporting systems. If it is a serious incident, then all efforts must be made to escalate to the Police as quickly as possible.

NHSScotland has joined the multi-agency Your Safety Matters (YSM) initiative, led by Police Scotland. YSM aims to minimise incidents of violence and aggression in workplaces, through campaigns, sharing resources and good practice.

Question reference: S6W-17781

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 19 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that police officers have been called out almost 10,000 times to hospitals and health centres in the past five years.

No-one should be the victim of abuse or violence while at work and assaults on NHS staff are completely unacceptable.

The courts have extensive powers to deal robustly with those who attack emergency workers and we strongly encourage staff to report all instances of violent and aggressive behaviour through their local reporting systems. If it is a serious incident, then all efforts must be made to escalate to the Police as quickly as possible.

NHSScotland has joined the multi-agency Your Safety Matters (YSM) initiative, led by Police Scotland. YSM aims to minimise incidents of violence and aggression in workplaces, through campaigns, sharing resources and good practice.

Question reference: S6O-02288

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 May 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to modernise the fire estate.

Question reference: S6W-17614

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to explore introducing a bespoke monitoring body for air quality in Scotland.

The Scottish Government's position on this is set out in the improvement plan which was produced in response to the recommendations set out in Environmental Standards Scotland's improvement report following its investigation into air quality. The improvement plan was laid in the Scottish Parliament on 27 March 2023 and can be viewed at: Environmental Standards Scotland air quality investigation - Scottish Government improvement plan - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Question reference: S6W-17615

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to revise its air quality strategy to include specific timescales that local authorities must comply with.

The Scottish Government's position on this is set out in the improvement plan which was produced in response to the recommendations set out in Environmental Standards Scotland's improvement report following its investigation into air quality. The improvement plan was laid in the Scottish Parliament on 27 March 2023 and can be viewed at: Environmental Standards Scotland air quality investigation - Scottish Government improvement plan - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Question reference: S6W-17602

Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2023
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 12 May 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is on course to meet any targets for (a) collective bargaining coverage and (b) trade union membership in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has made a clear commitment to promote collective bargaining through the inclusion of an employee voice indicator, measured by collective bargaining coverage, within the National Performance Framework.

Our National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET) and our refreshed Fair Work Action Plan include actions to support to trade unions and the promotion of collective bargaining. In line with commitments in the Bute House Agreement, we are now strengthening our approach to conditionality. From 1 July 2023, all public sector grants will include a requirement to pay at least the Real Living Wage to all employees, and provide appropriate channels for effective voice. We published updated Fair Work First guidance on 24 March to support the adoption of this new requirement.

It is our belief that a progressive approach to industrial relations and to trade unionism is at the very heart of a fairer, more successful society. There is clear evidence that unionised workplaces have more engaged staff, have a higher level of staff training and a progressive approach to staff wellbeing.

Accordingly, we will continue to promote trade union recognition and collective bargaining, at both local and sectoral levels, across the economy to achieve improved conditions and enhance effective voice. Work is progressing in the social care sector to increase bargaining coverage and efforts are also ongoing in other traditionally low paid or precarious sectors to advance fair work and effective voice for workers.

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