Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-19318

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 5 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the total spend by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was on the contract with Systel for a new national command and control mobilising system.

Question reference: S6W-19351

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 4 July 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what annual budget saving it anticipates will be achieved from the reported removal of 10 appliances from fire stations across Scotland.

The Scottish Government allocates a budget to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service as part of the annual Budget Act process. Decisions on how that budget is spent in order to deliver a balanced budget is a matter for the SFRS Board and Chief Officer as the Accountable Officer.

It is appropriate that SFRS continues to review its operations to ensure it is effective and delivering value for money and that includes taking decisions on the number and location of fire appliances. The Scottish Government does not hold information on the potential cost or savings from individual operational decisions made by SFRS.

Question reference: S6W-18373

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 June 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 20 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take in response to the recently published Office of National Statistics figures, which reportedly show that Scotland is the "zero-hours contracts capital of the UK", with 105,000 workers in Scotland on zero-hours contracts.

The Scottish Government firmly opposes the inappropriate use of zero-hours contracts and other non-standard types of employment that offer workers minimal job or financial security. We continue to press the UK Government for the full devolution of employment powers in order to allow us to protect and enhance workers’ rights and tackle the inappropriate use of zero hours contracts.

We are limited to what we can achieve at present and recognise that only with independence can we realise our full potential. Our Fair Work Action Plan sets out the action we are taking, using the levers we have control over, to promote and deliver fairer working practices.

Through our flagship Fair Work First policy, we are applying Fair Work criteria to as many funding streams, business support grants and public contracts as we can. The inclusion of the criterion no inappropriate use of zero hours contracts is a key mechanism for driving fair pay in Scottish workplaces.

For the last seven years we have funded the STUC to support its efforts in tackling precarious work and promoting fair work in under-unionised sectors.

In 2021 we introduced a Living Hours Employer Accreditation Scheme for Scotland, recognising that as well as payment of the real Living Wage, the number and frequency of working hours and security of contract are critical to addressing in-work poverty.

My previous answer to S6W-18372 on 8 June 2023, S6W-18374 on 9 June 2023 & S6W-18375 on 6 June 2023 provides the details on how the Scottish Government is engaging in these areas with various stakeholders, businesses, unions and employers on the matter of Zero Hours Contracts using our Fair Work policy to promote fairer work practices across the labour market in Scotland.

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 .

Question reference: S6W-18492

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2023
Current Status: Holding Answer by Mairi McAllan on 15 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will require Transport Scotland to undertake a public consultation on any privatisation of the electric vehicle (EV) charging network.

Question reference: S6W-18490

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2023
Current Status: Holding Answer by Mairi McAllan on 15 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it was consulted by Transport Scotland prior to the decision to privatise the electric vehicle (EV) charging network.

Question reference: S6W-18493

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2023
Current Status: Holding Answer by Mairi McAllan on 15 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions Transport Scotland has had with (a) COSLA and (b) any other public body regarding the electric vehicle (EV) charging network in relation to it remaining in public ownership, rather than being privatised.

Question reference: S6W-18494

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the cumulative spend on ChargePlace Scotland has been since its creation.

Question reference: S6W-18491

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 15 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will intervene and prevent any further privatisation of the national electric vehicle (EV) charging network.

ChargePlace Scotland’s assets are owned by 400 separate organisations across the public, private and third sectors. These organisations are responsible for commercial decisions relating to their own charge point assets.

Transport Scotland are currently supporting Local Authorities to develop plans that will enable them to work with the private sector to invest in public charging across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-18374

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 9 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a list of the actions that it is taking, within its current powers, to reduce the number of people in Scotland on zero-hours contracts.

My previous answer to S6W-18372 on 8 June 2023 provides the details on how the Scottish Government is engaging with various stakeholders, businesses, unions and employers on the matter of Zero Hours Contracts using our Fair Work policy to promote fairer work practices across the labour market in Scotland.

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

Question reference: S6W-18372

Asked by: Richard Leonard, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 May 2023
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 8 June 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) business community, (b) UK Government and (c) Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), regarding how to reduce the number of people in Scotland on zero-hours contracts.

My officials have held numerous engagements with a range of employers in relation to the refreshed Fair Work Action Plan, and updates in Fair Work Policy. Specifically, applying the Fair Work criteria to public sector grants, other funding, and contracts where it’s relevant and proportionate to do so. This includes employers being asked to commit to no inappropriate use of zero hours contracts.

We continue to press the UK Government for the full devolution of employment powers in order to allow us to fully deliver our Fair Work ambitions. We firmly oppose improper use of zero-hours contracts and other non-standard types of employment that offer workers minimal job or financial security.

We have given £250,000 annually for the last seven years to the STUC through the Trade Union Fair Work and Modernisation Fund to support their efforts in tackling precarious work and promoting fair work in under-unionised sectors. We maintain regular contact with STUC to ensure the funding is used effectively.

In 2021 we introduced a Living Hours Employer Accreditation Scheme for Scotland, recognising that as well as payment of the real Living Wage, the number and frequency of working hours and security of contract are critical to addressing in-work poverty.

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