- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 11 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its response to Freedom of Information request FOI/202300374485, how many of its officials attended the Structural Safety Group meeting that took place in May 2020.
Answer
One Scottish Government official attended the meeting.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB) on 11 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what it can do to ensure that the Scottish Parliament building is safe from any outside interference, in light of the reported allegations of Chinese state spies in the UK Parliament.
Answer
The SPCB is aware of the serious risk of possible outside interference to the Scottish Parliament. We have a range of measures in place to mitigate the risk as far as possible. As these measures impact on the security of the Scottish Parliament, it would not be appropriate to publish the details of these measures.
The Member may wish to be aware that the SPCB approved a series of CPD briefing sessions in early November for Members and their staff, with representatives from our security partners, to raise awareness of outside interference. The briefing sessions focused on what Members and their staff can do to help with managing the risk from outside interference.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 7 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what it is doing to support local authorities in locating and addressing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete outside of schools and housing.
Answer
The Scottish Government is working with all public sector partners to understand the extent of, and risks associated with, RAAC across all public bodies. In respect of issues concerning RAAC outside of schools and housing, Scottish Government officials are working closely with the Scottish Heads of Property Services (SHOPS) which is co-ordinating an information gathering exercise on our behalf in respect of the prevalence of RAAC in the non school/non housing estate. Information is also sought on planned actions and mitigations. Scottish Government officials will continue to attend SHOPS meetings to support information sharing, help facilitate wider engagement with other sectors and ensure awareness of best industry practice in mitigating RAAC impacts.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 7 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings (a) ministers and (b) officials have had in relation to the four-day working week public sector pilot since April 2023, and whether it will publish the agendas and minutes of any such meetings.
Answer
There has been one meeting on 5 October 2023 between myself and Maggie Chapman (Scottish Green Party MSP) on the four-day working week public sector pilot. There have been no further formal meetings with Ministers on the pilot since April 2023.
Officials have held a number of planning meetings with prospective interested public sector organisations, the expert partner organisation, and other interested stakeholders.
There are no immediate plans to publish the agendas and minutes of these meetings as it not an established practice for regular policy development.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 6 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the analysis of the outcomes of its four-day working week public sector pilot, how this work will be carried out and by whom, including whether it plans to appoint any consultants or outside organisations, and whether it will publish a final report.
Answer
The aim of the 4 Day Working Week public sector pilot is to assess environmental, health and wellbeing benefits, and efficiency gains, that a four-day working week could bring.
An expert partner with industry experience in 4 Day Work Week trials and research has been recruited through a Grant Funding exercise. They will facilitate the design and running of the pilot and support interested public bodies during the course of the pilot. Ministers will consider the findings of this work and will consider whether a final report will be published.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 6 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what departments or agencies have expressed an interest in being involved in its four-day working week public sector pilot.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23120 7 December 2023. 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: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 6 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its four-day working week public sector pilot, how much money has been (a) allocated to support this and (b) spent to date, and whether it will provide a breakdown of these costs.
Answer
Funding of £100,000 has been allocated through a Grant Fund Award in the 2023-24 financial year to support the onboarding of an expert partner organisation, with £80,000 being the indicative funding of this award for 2024-25. None of these funds have been spent to date.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 6 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the (a) proposals and (b) approved plans for its four-day working week public sector pilot, including the (i) terms of reference, (ii) objectives and (iii) assessment criteria.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23120 on 7 December 2023. 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: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 6 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how many civil servants have worked (a) full-time and (b) part-time on its four-day working week public sector pilot, since April 2023.
Answer
Four civil servants have worked part-time on its four-day working week four-day working week public sector pilot, since April 2023.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 November 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 6 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what it can do to ensure that Scottish Government buildings are safe from any outside interference, in light of the reported allegations of Chinese state spies in the UK Parliament.
Answer
Outside interference is a risk which the Scottish Government is aware of through our regular threat analysis and risk assessment processes. The Scottish Government employs a range of measures to mitigate this type of risk as much as possible. As I’m sure Mr Cole-Hamilton will understand, it would not be appropriate to publish the details of these measures.