Chamber and committees

Is there a difference between what you pay your staff and what the private sector bodies that are delivering similar work pay their staff? How are you managing that? You have spoken about the negotiation with union colleagues during which 10 per cent was put on the table, and I am interested in the other ways in which you are supporting retention and making employment with you an attractive proposition compared to working for a private body.

I understand how ways of working might change but, to put it bluntly, is there a case for looking at smaller, cheaper, different locations outside Edinburgh? I do not know.

Quality is key, as well as customer satisfaction and client satisfaction.

I understand. I will move neatly on to the impact of Covid. There has been a delay in auditing work. Can you give an assessment of where you are as an organisation in catching up on that? It would also be useful if you could talk about clarity in Covid funding as well.

That sounds attractive and, for anybody wanting a career where they can make a difference on those key issues—inequalities, climate and improving society—that is great, but is there not a challenge inherent in your blended model of both in-house and private sector delivery? Someone could be doing the work in the private sector and potentially be getting better pay for it. I am being devil’s advocate here.

I want to ask you about the strategic improvement programme and how the long-term estate strategy aligns with the future operating model. Vicki, you alluded to a rates review of your main premises. We were fortunate enough to visit you in the summer and you have very nice offices. I am thinking about how that aligns with the future operating strategy for space and location and what you might be planning.

Thank you.

Are you saying that the UK Government has ruled out a 2026 sunset date for all legislation, or is it in the gift of individual secretaries of state to push their batch of 2,500 laws or whatever to a sunset date of 2026 and put in something more rational as a review process?

You will just have to suck it up.

No.