The Scottish Parliament

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.

Question reference: S7W-01870

Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 28 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has reportedly removed the £5,000 p/a pay supplement to civil servants working in the Digital Data and Technology Framework, resulting in real terms pay reductions of nine to 14%.

Pay supplements are operational matters for the Scottish Government Civil Service and are, by design, temporary and subject to periodic review. They are typically approved for a fixed term of up to three years and may be continued, varied, or withdrawn based on the outcome of that review. These supplements are attached to specific roles rather than individuals and are used to address recruitment and retention pressures in areas where market conditions require it.

The outcome to remove the previous Digital, Data and Technology pay supplement and replace it with the new Government Digital and Data pay supplement was informed by labour market evidence and pay data, with the process agreed between Scottish Government HR Pay and Reward and the Convention of Scottish Government Unions (CSGU). It included engagement with trade unions and senior leaders, with recommendations considered by an independent Pay Panel. As agreed with CSGU, there is a period of withdrawal for 12 months during which the DDaT pay supplement will be paid in full.

Pay supplements do not form part of contractual base pay and are explicitly intended to be temporary mechanisms linked to prevailing market conditions. There has been no reduction to the base pay of any individuals affected by the review.

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Question reference: S7W-01870

Answer