Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-18037 on 17 August 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The current value of the IBM contract is publically available on the Public Contracts Scotland website.

The original £8.3 million value of the contract was to support the development and implementation of four Scottish Government benefits and the revised contract delivers much more than we originally asked for.

A four year breakdown of the cost of the contract is not available. It currently runs until October 2019, with an option to extend. The bulk of the projected costs therefore fall in 2018-19 and 2019-20.

The Scottish Government has many available funds for coastal local authorities, raising awareness for these funds are done in many different ways, including social media and in local newspapers.

The Scottish Government is delivering a funding package of £11.2 billion for local authorities in 2019-20, a real terms increase of £310 million or 2.9 per cent for essential public services in Scotland. Details of the available funding from the Scottish Government is published in The Local Government Finance Circular that contains the individual allocations for each local authority.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/local-government-finance-circular-2-2019-settlement-for-2019-2020/ .

Following devolution of the management and revenue of the Scottish Crown Estate we agreed an interim arrangement with COSLA for distributing a share of total net revenue from marine assets in the 0-12 nautical mile zone (this arrangement is distinct from the operation of the Coastal Communities Fund). The precise timetable for reviewing this interim arrangement is still under discussion with COSLA but we expect it to be completed within the next two years.

The review of the Coastal Communities Fund in Scotland is at an advanced stage and I expect to announce the way forward on funding for coastal communities this summer.

There is no unallocated funding for Round 4 of the Coastal Communities Fund. All Coastal Communities Fund funding has been allocated to individual projects and all projects are due to complete this year.

As at 20 May 2019, the total spent to acquire third-party pieces of coding and software for the social security programme is £1,813,806.50. This figure excludes VAT and associated implementation costs.

No incentives are offered to staff in the Social Security Programme Management and Delivery division. Permanent staff in the Social Security Programme Management and Delivery division are employed on the Standard Scottish Government terms and conditions of employment.

Social Security Scotland aims to recruit a diverse workforce, to ensure a positive induction process, and to provide ongoing learning and development opportunities.

Before an employee takes up a post, Social Security Scotland identify any adjustments which may be required to support an individual in their employment.

Social Security Scotland employs people on Scottish Government terms and conditions and aligns with Scottish Government People policies, ensuring a full range of employee support is available that reflects our values of dignity, fairness and respect.

When considering our location(s) of our offices in Dundee and Glasgow, the Scottish Government undertook comprehensive analysis, part of this analysis was to consider the labour market and the ability to recruit for permanent posts within each location.

Social Security Scotland engage with third sector organisations and employability stakeholders across Scotland to raise awareness of their recruitment campaigns.

This has delivered successful outcomes in not only filling vacancies advertised, but also created some reserve lists for future recruitment campaigns.

Social Security Scotland’s Executive Advisory Body provides strategic advice and constructive challenge to the Chief Executive and the Senior Leadership Team. It specifically supports those activities for which the Agency Chief Executive is Accountable Officer. The Agency works closely alongside our Policy and Programme colleagues, in the Social Security Directorate, to deliver the devolution of social security in Scotland.