- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Des McNulty on 20 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of basic bank accounts opened since accounts were introduced and what steps it can take in conjunction with banks to encourage a greater uptake and range of services for people on low incomes.
Answer
Treasury figures suggest that there were over 5.4 million basic bank accounts at the end of June 2002. This is an increase over the figure of 3.3 million at the end of 2000. However, an estimated 3.5 million adults in the UK still do not have a bank account. The Executive has regular discussions with the Committee of Scottish Clearing Bankers to explore what can be done to provide more appropriate and accessible products and to encourage a greater uptake of services, such as basic bank accounts.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Des McNulty on 20 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any representations from credit unions on the proposed European directive on consumer credit.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has received no representations from credit unions on the proposed European directive on consumer credit.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Des McNulty on 20 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered any successor arrangements in respect of the Scottish Credit Union Partnership.
Answer
We have no plans for any successor arrangements for the Scottish Credit Union Partnership.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Des McNulty on 20 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to tackle financial exclusion.
Answer
Specific action by the Executive includes providing an additional £3 million to increase the number of money advisers in Scotland and £500,000 for increased central support for money advice including training, information and quality assurance. The Executive has also allocated £1.5 million over three years to help credit unions with capacity building, to extend their membership and the services they offer. The Executive is also working with parties in the financial sector and others to encourage the development of new and alternative means to deliver financial services as well as ensuring existing services are accessible to people at risk of financial exclusion.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Des McNulty on 20 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the establishment of a central services organisation for credit unions and what action it can take to help realise such a project.
Answer
The Executive is working with the Scottish Credit Union Partnership on a number of centrally provided support functions for credit unions, including healthchecks and business planning, work on volunteer training and the use of IT. The Executive would be willing to take part in any future discussions at UK level on the possibility of a dedicated central services organisation.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 16 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31558 by Mr Andy Kerr on 9 December 2002, by what process the delivery of results is judged in the performance management system operating in the senior civil service.
Answer
Judgements on the delivery of results required in the annual performance agreement are made by the reporting officers and discussed with the staff member being reported on as part of the open reporting process.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 16 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31557 by Mr Andy Kerr on 6 December 2002, how many (a) top tranche performers were awarded 3% of their salary as opposed to the fixed sum of #3,000 and (b) middle tranche performers were awarded 3% of their salary as opposed to the fixed sum of #2,000 and what the total value of the payments were in each category.
Answer
In the top tranche three people were awarded a bonus of 3% of salary. The total value of those bonus payments was £9,205. In the middle tranche 17 people were awarded a bonus of 3% of salary. The total value of those bonus payments was £40,817.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 16 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31558 by Mr Andy Kerr on 9 December 2002, what weight is attached to (a) delivery of results, (b) continuous improvement and (c) relative performance in the performance management of its senior civil servants.
Answer
The delivery of results and continuous improvement are equally important and contribute to the assessment of relative performance.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 16 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31558 by Mr Andy Kerr on 9 December 2002, whether 360-degree appraisals are used in the performance management of its senior civil servants and whether such appraisals are used elsewhere in the civil service.
Answer
All members of the senior civil service have had the opportunity to participate in 360-degree feedback, the result of which are relevant to the development discussion which is part of the appraisal process.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 16 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive when the performance management system for senior civil servants is likely to be reviewed and what input it will have to any such review.
Answer
An evaluation of the first year of the new Senior Civil Service Performance Management and Pay arrangements has been carried out by the Cabinet Office with support from consultants. As a major employer of senior civil servants, the Scottish Executive participated with in-depths interviews and an electronic survey. The Cabinet Office are currently considering the findings of this evaluation.
