- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 12 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of five of the 15 potential sites being in Scotland, what its position is on the proposed prototype fusion energy plant being considered by the UK Government for one of these sites.
Answer
The UK Atomic Energy Authority’s (UKAEA) has identified five potential site for the UK’s first prototype nuclear fusion reactor. This includes one location in Scotland at Ardeer. The Scottish energy strategy, published in December 2017, confirmed the Scottish Government’s continued opposition to new nuclear stations under current technologies. Our priority continues to be to support energy efficiency, develop Scotland’s huge renewable resource and to promote storage and flexibility.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 November 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 11 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish a full assessment of the outcomes of the COP26 discussions and the implications for Scotland’s energy strategy.
Answer
The Scottish Government will consider in detail the decisions and outcomes from the COP26 Summit, as well as the comprehensive Scottish Government programme that is running alongside. Our forthcoming draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan will take a whole-system view of the energy sector and highlight our commitment to ensuring that the transition to net zero is inclusive, creates good green jobs, is fair for all, and that no one is left behind. It will provide an early opportunity for Scotland to build on the agreements and priorities that emerge from COP.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 November 2021
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 17 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to encourage people to use public transport rather than cars.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 17 November 2021
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 8 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many temporary staff it has employed in each of its directorates in each year since 2017.
Answer
The following table below shows the number of directly employed staff on Fixed-Term appointment contracts at 30 June 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, broken down by Directorate. 30 June has been selected for consistency with PQ S6W-03819 on 8 November 2021 which contains 30 June 2021 data.
DG | Directorate | 30-Jun-17 |
| | | Fixed Term Appt |
DG COM | DIRECTORATE FOR DIGITAL | 33 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR HOUSING AND SOCIAL JUSTICE | 3 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITIES | 7 |
DG ECON | DIRECTORATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY (ARE) | 63 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF ECONOMIST | 7 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR CULTURE, TOURISM AND MAJOR EVENTS | 2 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | 2 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR MARINE SCOTLAND | 40 |
DG FIN | SCOTTISH PROCUREMENT AND COMMERCIAL DIRECTORATE | 1 |
DG HLTHSC | DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE INTEGRATION | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTH PERFORMANCE AND DELIVERY | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTH WORKFORCE AND STRATEGIC CHANGE | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTHCARE QUALITY AND IMPROVEMENT | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR POPULATION HEALTH | 3 |
DG LAJ | DIRECTORATE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES | 9 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR EDUCATION ANALYTICAL SERVICES | 3 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR LEARNING | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES | 3 |
DG SO | DIRECTORATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS | 5 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR LEGAL SERVICES (SOLICITOR TO THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT) | 4 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR PEOPLE | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR STRATEGY AND CONSTITUTION | 3 |
Total | | 194 |
DG | Directorate | 30-Jun-18 |
| | | Fixed Term Appt |
DG CEA | DIRECTORATE FOR LEGAL SERVICES (SOLICITOR TO THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT) | 6 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT EU OFFICE | 1 |
DG ECJ | DIRECTORATE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES | 7 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR EDUCATION ANALYTICAL SERVICES | 5 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR HOUSING AND SOCIAL JUSTICE | 5 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR JUSTICE | 2 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR LEARNING | 2 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITIES | 9 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES | 2 |
DG ECON | DG CO-ORDINATION - ECONOMIC POLICY UNIT | 1 |
| | DG ECONOMY – NO DIRECTORATE SPECIFIED | 2 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY (ARE) | 39 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF ECONOMIST | 4 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR CULTURE, TOURISM AND MAJOR EVENTS | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | 2 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTRY | 2 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR FAIR WORK, EMPLOYABILITY AND SKILLS | 2 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR MARINE SCOTLAND | 42 |
DG HLTHSC | DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE INTEGRATION | 2 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTH WORKFORCE AND STRATEGIC CHANGE | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTHCARE QUALITY AND IMPROVEMENT | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR POPULATION HEALTH | 4 |
DG ODO | DIRECTORATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, MINISTERIAL SUPPORT AND FACILITIES | 5 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR DIGITAL | 22 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR PEOPLE | 2 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY | 4 |
DG SE | DIRECTORATE FOR STRATEGY, PERFORMANCE & OUTCOMES | 1 |
Total | | 178 |
DG | Directorate | 30-Jun-19 |
| | | Fixed Term Appt |
DG CEA | CONSTITUTION AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR EU EXIT AND TRANSITION | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR LEGAL SERVICES (SOLICITOR TO THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT) | 12 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT EU OFFICE | 1 |
DG ECJ | DIRECTORATE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES | 4 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR EDUCATION ANALYTICAL SERVICES | 4 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR HOUSING AND SOCIAL JUSTICE | 6 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR JUSTICE | 2 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR LEARNING | 2 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITIES | 4 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES | 7 |
DG ECON | DIRECTORATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY (ARE) | 36 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF ECONOMIST | 3 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR CULTURE, TOURISM AND MAJOR EVENTS | 2 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE | 3 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTRY | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR FAIR WORK, EMPLOYABILITY AND SKILLS | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR MARINE SCOTLAND | 18 |
| | SCOTTISH NATIONAL INVESTMENT BANK | 1 |
DG HLTHSC | DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE INTEGRATION | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTH WORKFORCE, LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE REFORM | 2 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTHCARE QUALITY AND IMPROVEMENT | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR POPULATION HEALTH | 4 |
DG ODO | DIRECTORATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, MINISTERIAL SUPPORT AND FACILITIES | 23 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR DIGITAL | 26 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR PEOPLE | 9 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY | 12 |
Total | | 190 |
DG | Directorate | 30-Jun-20 |
| | | Fixed Term Appt |
DG CEA | DIRECTORATE FOR CONSTITUTION AND CABINET | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR LEGAL SERVICES (SOLICITOR TO THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT) | 13 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR READINESS AND TRANSITION | 1 |
| | PARLIAMENTARY COUNSEL OFFICE | 2 |
DG ECJ | DIRECTORATE FOR ADVANCED LEARNING AND SCIENCE | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES | 3 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR EARLY LEARNING & CHILDCARE PROGRAMME | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR HOUSING AND SOCIAL JUSTICE | 3 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR LEARNING | 3 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITIES | 6 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES | 6 |
DG ECON | DIRECTORATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY (ARE) | 32 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF ECONOMIST | 4 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR CULTURE, TOURISM AND MAJOR EVENTS | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE | 12 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR FAIR WORK, EMPLOYABILITY AND SKILLS | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR MARINE SCOTLAND | 20 |
| | SCOTTISH NATIONAL INVESTMENT BANK | 1 |
DG HLTHSC | DG HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE – NO DIRECTORATE SPECIFIED | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE | 2 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR COVID PUBLIC HEALTH | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTHCARE QUALITY AND IMPROVEMENT | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR MENTAL HEALTH | 3 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR POPULATION HEALTH | 1 |
DG ODO | DIRECTORATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, MINISTERIAL SUPPORT AND FACILITIES | 20 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR DIGITAL | 33 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR PEOPLE | 7 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY | 24 |
| | SCOTTISH PROCUREMENT AND COMMERCIAL DIRECTORATE | 1 |
Total | | 208 |
Directorates with no fixed term appointment staff are not listed | |
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 8 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government how many people it currently employs on a temporary basis in each of its directorates.
Answer
The following table shows the number of directly employed staff on Fixed-Term appointment contracts at 30 June 2021, broken down by Directorate. These are our most recently published data.
DG | Directorate | 30-Jun-21 |
| | | Fixed Term Appt |
DG CEA | DIRECTORATE FOR CONSTITUTION AND CABINET | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR COVID CO-ORDINATION | 10 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR ORGANISATIONAL READINESS | 5 |
| | PARLIAMENTARY COUNSEL OFFICE | 2 |
DG COM | DIRECTORATE FOR EQUALITY, INCLUSION & HUMAN RIGHTS | 4 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR HOUSING AND SOCIAL JUSTICE | 5 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITIES | 8 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY | 15 |
DG CORP | DIRECTORATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND MINISTERIAL SUPPORT | 18 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR DIGITAL | 24 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR LEGAL SERVICES (SOLICITOR TO THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT) | 11 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR PEOPLE | 15 |
DG ECON | DIRECTORATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY (ARE) | 10 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF ECONOMIST | 2 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR COVID BUSINESS RESILIENCE AND SUPPORT | 7 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR CULTURE, TOURISM AND MAJOR EVENTS | 2 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | 2 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE | 9 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR FAIR WORK, EMPLOYABILITY AND SKILLS | 6 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR MARINE SCOTLAND | 18 |
DG EJ | DIRECTORATE FOR ADVANCED LEARNING AND SCIENCE | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES | 5 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR EARLY LEARNING & CHILDCARE | 1 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR JUSTICE | 4 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR LEARNING | 4 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES | 11 |
DG HLTHSC | DG HLTHSC | 2 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER | 4 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF NURSING OFFICER | 8 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE | 7 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR COVID PUBLIC HEALTH | 29 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR DIGITAL REFORM AND SERVICE ENGAGEMENT | 6 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTH FINANCE, CORPORATE GOVERNANCE & VALUE | 4 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTH PERFORMANCE AND DELIVERY | 3 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTH WORKFORCE | 8 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTHCARE QUALITY AND IMPROVEMENT | 4 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR MENTAL HEALTH | 6 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE | 30 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR POPULATION HEALTH | 7 |
| | DIRECTORATE FOR PRIMARY CARE | 2 |
Total | | 322 |
Directorates with no fixed term appointment staff are not listed | |
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 8 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions it has used an external recruitment agency to fill a post in each of the last four years, also broken down by which recruitment agency was used.
Answer
For Bands A-C (junior to middle management grades) the Scottish Government does not use external recruitment agencies to fill temporary or permanent posts where the worker is employed by SG directly. At senor civil service level recruitment agencies are sometimes used to identify potential candidates for such roles.
The table provides this information for temporary and permanent employed roles in the senior civil service from 2018 onwards broken down by recruitment agency.
Year | Munro Consulting | Saxton Bampfylde | Gatenby Sanderson | Green Park Interim & Executive Limited |
2018 | 2 | - | - | - |
2019 | - | 1 | - | - |
2020 | - | - | 2 | 1 |
2021 to date | - | 2 | 3 | - |
The Scottish Government does use employment agencies to fill some types of temporary roles. Our use of the agencies is for workers not employed by Scottish Government but employed and paid by the agency. The Scottish Government is invoiced by the agency for their services.
The table provides this information from 2018 onwards. The figures are for new start agency workers used to fill vacant temporary roles in the given year rather than snapshot figures which would indicate the actual number of agency workers in the organisation at a particular date. We do not have a breakdown of which agency was used on each occasion.
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 to date | Total |
268 | 236 | 258 | 432 | 1194 |
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 8 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has had with the UK Government regarding the introduction of a digital sales tax in Scotland.
Answer
There has been no discussion between the UK and Scottish Governments over the introduction of a digital sales tax in Scotland. The Scottish Government is closely monitoring the UK Government’s planned forthcoming consultation on the arguments for and against an online sales tax, as announced in its final report to their fundamental review of business rates published alongside the UK Budget on 27 October.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 8 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the introduction of a digital sales tax.
Answer
As set out in the draft Framework for Tax, which only recently closed for consultation on 26 October, the Scottish Government is committed to exploring the introduction of a digital sales tax in Scotland.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 8 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government within what timeframe it anticipates its Retail Strategy will be published.
Answer
The Scottish Government is working with retail businesses, trade unions, academia, public sector and trade organisations to develop a Retail Strategy that will enable the retail sector in Scotland to play its part in creating a fairer, greener and stronger Scotland. The Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth Building made a statement to Scottish Parliament on 26 October confirming that the Retail Strategy will be published later this year.
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 8 November 2021
To ask the Scottish Government whether a digital sales tax will be included in its forthcoming Retail Strategy.
Answer
Exploring the introduction of a digital sales tax in Scotland will be progressed in line with the Scottish Government’s fiscal and tax policy making cycle and will monitor closely the UK Government’s planned forthcoming consultation on the arguments for and against an online sales tax, following the conclusion of their fundamental review of business rates this autumn.
