Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-27746 on 26 October 2015. 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-27746 on 26 October 2015. 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-27746 on 26 October 2015. 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-27746 on 26 October 2015. 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-27746 on 26 October 2015. 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.

There is no such contract for the supply of water to the public sector. Scottish Water currently delivers 96.5% of all mains water in Scotland and will continue to do so once this contract is awarded. The contract in question is for water billing services and does not change the supply of mains water in Scotland. The successful tenderer was Anglian Water which offered the best bid on the combined balance of quality and cost.

Following the announcement of tender evaluation, public bodies have to observe a ‘standstill period’, during which bidders can raise queries about process. During the tender process, we received queries and had to investigate these thoroughly before moving to contract award.

The Scottish Government held one meeting with Anglian Water Business in the past year, on 24 February 2015. The discussion regarded Anglian Water Business’ intentions for implementing the contract and how these would be supported by their business structure.

The next pay review date for Scottish Government staff is 1 August 2016. Informal scoping discussions will begin soon with the recognised trade unions representing staff in the Scottish Government main and marine pay bargaining units. The formal negotiation process will begin in 2016 once public sector pay policy has been published and an approved pay negotiating remit is in place. I met the trade unions representing civil servants on 2 October 2015.

Normally, the Office for National Statistics’ Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey series (QPSES) is used to provide numbers on public sector staffing in Scotland and those working for the Scottish Government. However, given the question covers both staff number and costs, the Scottish Government annual consolidated accounts provide a more complete source of information¹.

Note 2 of the Scottish Government’s consolidated accounts contains information on whole time equivalent staffing numbers and costs by ministerial portfolio. Providing data by ministerial portfolio makes comparison over time more reliable. Organisational structures are flexible and change year on year which undermines comparison at a directorate level.

Accounts for each year since 2007-08 are available on the Scottish Government website via the links below:

2014-15 http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/10/3786

2013-14 http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2014/10/7433/19

2012-13 http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2013/09/2320

2011-12 http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2012/09/1505

2010-11 http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2011/09/29132216/24

2009-10 http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2010/09/27130425/23

2008-09 http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2009/10/01085501/0

2007-08 http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2008/09/29130020/18

2006-07 http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2007/10/30102402/33

Note:

1. The annual accounts give an average over the year, whereas QPSES provides a snapshot of employee numbers. The annual accounts include all staff, whereas QPSES only includes directly employed staff.

Scottish taxpayers will be identified by the address that HMRC holds for them and will be written to directly by HMRC to advise them that they are considered to be a Scottish taxpayer. The addressee will only need to contact HMRC if they disagree with this assessment.

HMRC has planned activity to encourage people to ensure that HMRC holds their up to date address and will have in place enforcement and compliance processes to support the collection of the Scottish rate of income tax from April 2016.