Chamber and committees

Procurement falls within my portfolio and I will be leading the planning for a sustainable procurement bill.

As an employer, the Scottish Government takes an organisation-wide approach to the active promotion of the benefits of a physically active lifestyle to all of its employees, including those in its Agencies. Our Health and Wellbeing Strategy, and action plan, sets out a range of actions to help staff gain an understanding of how to improve their own physical and mental health and wellbeing. The Scottish Government Sports and Social Association (in conjunction with the Civil Service Sports Council) encourages the participation of employees in a variety of events and activities, including lunchtime fitness classes and the use of our workplace health and fitness facilities.

Addressing low pay is a key objective of the Scottish Government and our current public sector pay policy requires employers to introduce a Scottish Living Wage at the level recommended by the Scottish Living Wage campaign. This is currently set at £7.15 an hour. I can confirm that public bodies covered by the 2011-12 public sector pay policy are in process of meeting this requirement in respect of 2011-12 pay settlements.

I can also confirm that from 1 April 2011 all NHS staff in Scotland earn above our Scottish living wage threshold of £7.15.

Local authorities are self-governing bodes and set the terms and conditions under which staff are employed. However I welcome the fact that a number of local authorities have already introduced a living wage and this Government will continue to press all public sector employers to introduce the Scottish living wage.

The Scottish Government has regular discussions with universities about a broad range of issues. Decisions about the provision of campus events and facilities are however operational matters for universities, not the Scottish Government.

On the assumption that this question relates to the telephone hacking allegations reported in the media, the Scottish Government is aware that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has asked Strathclyde Police to consider the wider matter of telephone hacking and any issues impacting on Scotland.

On the assumption that this question relates to the telephone hacking allegations reported in the media, the Scottish Government has had no discussions with media organisations.

On the assumption that this question relates to the telephone hacking allegations reported in the media, Scottish Government officials are liaising with Home Officials.

On the assumption that this question relates to the telephone hacking allegations reported in the media, the Scottish Government has had no discussions with Crown Office about implications for convictions.

The Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment has lead responsibility for tackling fuel poverty.

We are considering the timing of proposals on a Sustainable Procurement Bill, mindful of the fact that European Commission will bring forward proposals to amend European Procurement legislation later this year or early 2012.