Chamber and committees

Data from the ONS’ Labour Force Survey for the most recent quarter (December to February 2017) shows that the economic inactivity rate was 23.0 per cent.

The most recent data available on reason for inactivity from the ONS’ Labour Force Survey indicates that the largest increases were seen amongst students and those long-term sick or disabled (both up 30,000 over the year to October to December 2016).

Many economically inactive people are students, retired or are looking after family and home, however having a long-term illness or disability accounts for 30% of those aged 16 to 64 who are economically inactive.

The pre-election period in advance of the UK general election on 8 June 2017 will begin on 22 April 2017.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who will reply in writing within 20 days.

I have responded to the request for a meeting with the Member for Dumbarton to discuss business rates, which has accordingly been arranged.

The support provided by independent living centres is fundamental to the success of the Self-directed Support Act 2013, enabling more people in Scotland who use social care support to have greater choice and control of their lives. We are sympathetic to the view of centres for independent living that the payroll services they provide are closely related to welfare services, which are exempt from VAT. The case set out by HMRC is due to be reviewed at a first Tier Tax Tribunal. The Scottish Government will monitor the outcome of the case and consider appropriate action.

As I indicated in my previous response, the airport are in the process of finalising their Strategic Plan and the document will be published once it is complete. We expect this to be this month.

Details of members appointed by Scottish Ministers to regulated public boards is available at http://www.appointed-for-scotland.org/. Information on the diversity of ministerial public appointments to regulated public boards in Scotland is published annually by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland. The Commissioner's Annual Report and Accounts 2015/16 shows that at 31 December 2015, 42% of board members including chairs, were female, an increase from 38.4% in 2014-15. As 1 March 2017, this figure had risen to 45.8%.

The Scottish Government has repeatedly made clear that the continued under-representation of women in decision making positions, including on public boards in Scotland is unacceptable. Where current devolved powers allow, decisive action will be taken as a matter of priority to ensure that women are properly represented at senior levels, including on public boards. Later this year, we will introduce the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Bill, a key commitment of our 2016-17 Programme for Government: A Plan for Scotland.

The Bill will build on a transformative programme of improvement work, led by the Scottish Government's Public Appointments Team and the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland to improve the diversity of ministerial public appointments, which has already yielded positive results. In 2016, 43% of applicants and 59% of those appointed were women, an increase of 12 and 20 percentage points, respectively, since 2012.

As at 23 March 2017, 19 of 81 (23.45%) chairs of regulated public boards in Scotland were women.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving female representation on public boards. Later this year, we will introduce the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Bill, a key commitment of our 2016-17 Programme for Government: A Plan for Scotland. The draft Bill sets a gender representation objective for non-executive members of public boards, requiring certain action to be taken in the appointing of non-executive members towards the achievement of the objective. A consultation on the draft Bill closed on 17 March 2017 and responses will be independently analysed to inform and support the development of the Bill.

The Bill builds on the positive progress that has already been made to improve the diversity of ministerial appointments through a transformational programme of improvement work led by the Scottish Government’s Public Appointments Team and the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life. Activities include: reaching out to potential candidates in new and creative ways; promoting succession planning by public bodies with a view to identifying and developing potential candidates; challenging the public perceptions of ‘typical’ public appointees; simplifying the application process and testing different interview styles; using alternative assessment methods to allow candidates to demonstrate their skills, and developing a new partnership approach with the Commissioner for Ethical Standards to enhance creativity and expertise.