The Scottish Government prepares annual accounts in accordance with the Government Financial Reporting Manual (the FReM). The FReM requirements for 2011-12 include the disclosure of pay multiples in accordance with relevant guidance.

The number of deaths by suicide in 2010 was one of the lowest in Scotland since 1991; however, as annual numbers tend to fluctuate from year to year, three year rolling average rates are used for monitoring purposes. Based on these three year rolling averages, there has been an overall downward trend in suicide rates in Scotland between 2000-02 and 2008-10, with an overall decrease of 14%.

The equivalent comparison for males shows a decrease of 15%.

Information regarding numbers of suicide can be found on the General Register Office for Scotland Website, by using the following link, http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/theme/vital-events/deaths/age-standardised-rates.html.

<>The Scottish Government’s Public Sector Pay Policy includes a specific requirement for employers covered by the policy to apply the Scottish Living Wage. Public Sector Pay Policy is available on the Scottish Government Internet (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/09/21105455/0). All staff within the Scottish Government and its agencies are paid in excess of the Scottish Living Wage.

A small number of staff transferred into the Scottish Government with effect from 1 January 2012 with salaries below the Scottish Living Wage. These salaries will be increased in March to reflect the Scottish Living Wage, backdated to the date of transfer.

The information requested is not held centrally.

As noted in the answer to question S4W-05829 on 2 March 2012, a set of operating principles for the fund, designed to maximise its leverage and impact, will discussed at the Scottish Cities Alliance Leadership Group meeting in March. I will be happy to share these with you once they are agreed.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

As set out in the Government Economic Strategy – to which an update was published in September 2011 – reducing levels of inequality in Scotland, as expressed in the Solidarity target, remains one of the Scottish Government’s desired characteristics of sustainable economic growth.

Information on how this is measured and an overview of recent performance is provided on the “Scotland Performs” website, and more information can be found at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/scotPerforms/purpose/solidarity.

Neither the Scottish Government nor its agencies provide placements under workfare.

No projects have yet been supported by the Cities Investment Fund.

The Cities Investment Fund exists to help deliver the aims of the Scottish Cities Alliance as set out in Scotland’s Cities: Delivering for Scotland. It will be used to support collaborative programmes between cities that promote growth, lever investment and protect and create jobs.

A set of operating principles for the fund, designed to maximise its leverage and impact, will discussed at the leadership group meeting in March. I will be happy to share these with you once they are agreed.

The Scottish Cities Alliance Leadership Group meeting in March will discuss a set of operating principles for the Cities Investment Fund, designed to maximise its leverage and impact. No bids have yet been received for the fund.