Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S3W-35828

Asked by: Ms Wendy Alexander, MSP for Paisley North, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 August 2010
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 22 September 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total of non-consolidated bonus payments was for the public sector in 2009-10 and what the estimate is for 2010-11.

The total amount of non-consolidated performance related payments made in the public sector in Scotland in 2009-10 is currently unavailable. This is due to differences in the timing of organisational pay remits and because final financial returns have yet to be submitted.

No estimate is therefore available for 2010-11 but we are committed to significantly reducing non-consolidated performance payments in the public sector.

Question reference: S3W-35888

Asked by: Ms Wendy Alexander, MSP for Paisley North, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 August 2010
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 21 September 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the appropriateness of bonus payments for non-departmental public body chief executive officers in 2010-11.

Question reference: S3W-35887

Asked by: Ms Wendy Alexander, MSP for Paisley North, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 August 2010
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 21 September 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish its 2010-11 guidance on bonus payments to non-departmental public body chief executive officers.

Question reference: S3W-35885

Asked by: Ms Wendy Alexander, MSP for Paisley North, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 August 2010
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 21 September 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason its 2010-11 guidance on bonus payments to non-departmental public body chief executive officers allows for the payment of a bonus equivalent to 10% of salary.

Public Sector Pay Policy for Senior Appointments 2010-11, published on 5 May 2010, sets out the Scottish Government''s policy for public sector pay for chief executives of NDPBs and public corporations:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/04/27100002/0

The guidance makes clear that where a contractual entitlement exists, a non consolidated performance related pay may be proposed in recognition of exceptional performance; that any such proposals must include robust supporting evidence; and must be approved by the Scottish Government before any payment is made.

Since May 2007, we have consistently borne down on both the scale and the coverage of non-consolidated performance-related payments for senior public sector staff. We have reduced the total number of chief executives who have a contractual entitlement for non consolidated performance related pay through changed terms of employment on appointment.

In addition, in 2009-10 and again this year, we have asked the chairs of non-departmental public bodies and public corporations to invite their chief executives to waive part or all of any bonus to which they may be entitled.

In the tough financial climate facing us we will continue to restrain the pay and reward packages of senior public sector leaders.

Question reference: S3W-35973

Asked by: Ms Wendy Alexander, MSP for Paisley North, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 30 August 2010
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 21 September 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees of non-departmental public bodies, public corporations and other public bodies not covered by agency status are paid (a) £100,000 to £150,000, (b) £150,001 to £200,000 and (c) more than £200,000.

Some of this information is already in the public domain.

Employees of non-departmental public bodies and public corporations in Scotland earning more than £150,000 per year are listed on the Scottish Government website at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/Directorates/high-earners.

Information requested about those earning between £100,000 and £150,000 is not held centrally and could only be collected at disproportionate cost.

The Scottish Government has asked non-departmental public bodies and public corporations to publish salary information for those employees considered to be part of their senior leadership team. This information should be available shortly.

Question reference: S3W-35762

Asked by: Ms Wendy Alexander, MSP for Paisley North, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 August 2010
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 15 September 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any performance measurement and published data on the performance of local planning departments

Question reference: S3W-35827

Asked by: Ms Wendy Alexander, MSP for Paisley North, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 August 2010
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 14 September 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35361 by Keith Brown on 16 July 2010, how it reconciles the offer of the 16+ Learning Choices with the most recent figure for those not being in employment, education or training (NEET).

The latest school leaver destination statistics, published in June 2010, show that around 85% of young people who left school last year were in a positive destination nine months after leaving. This represents a small increase on the previous year and a positive performance in very challenging circumstances.

The fact is that even although we have officially moved out of recession its effects are still being clearly felt on the labour market, with more limited job opportunities available to young people when they finish their courses. Nevertheless, 61.3% of Scotland''s young people aged 18 to 24 are employed, higher than the UK average of 57.8% (LFS April to June 2010).

Local authorities, Skills Development Scotland, further education colleges and their partners are on track to deliver 16+ learning choices to all young people from December 2010. We are confident that this, together with the raft of new opportunities we have put in place, more college and university places, more Modern Apprenticeships and training programmes, Activity Agreements and volunteering, will drive further improvements and help more to achieve a positive and sustained destination.

Question reference: S3W-35923

Asked by: Ms Wendy Alexander, MSP for Paisley North, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 August 2010
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 13 September 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive over what period will the planned 700 jobs at Hewlett-Packard arising as a result of the award of £7 million in Regional Selective Assistance support will be created.

Question reference: S3W-35924

Asked by: Ms Wendy Alexander, MSP for Paisley North, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 August 2010
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 13 September 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the award to Hewlett-Packard of £7 million in Regional Selective Assistance support will be given in step with the promised 700 jobs being created.

Question reference: S3W-35921

Asked by: Ms Wendy Alexander, MSP for Paisley North, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 August 2010
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 13 September 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions have been attached to the award to Hewlett-Packard of £7 million in Regional Selective Assistance support.