Chamber and committees

With the commencement of Best Start Grant, all applications require that the Client Advisor verify the evidence prior to processing the application to an outcome. The information supplied within the clients application determines the verification processes and the proportion of time per application. At this time, 30% of our verification processes are automated and the other 70% is manual. We will endeavour to improve the level of automation as we iterate our systems and processes based on the feedback from users and stakeholders.

S5W-20261 was answered on 20 December 2018.

We do not record the number of interview panel members that are qualified to participate, or the protected characteristics of those that are qualified to participate.

Interview panel members should have undertaken all the appropriate training. All panel members should have completed unconscious bias diversity training and it is preferable that all panel members be trained in competency based interviewing - if this is not possible at least one panel member must be trained. In addition, all panels dealing with between band promotions should be chaired by a qualified Lead Panel Member. Lead Panel Members receive role specific training and induction.

The Scottish Government’s recruitment process complies in full with the Civil Service Commissioners’ requirements in respect to selection being based on merit and fair and open competition.

We do not record the number of interview panels constituted within the Scottish Government or within its agencies, or the protected characteristics of panel membership.

With reference to both internal and external vacancies for directly employed staff, the Scottish Government and its agencies managed 1,559 vacancies in 2017-18 and 1,617 vacancies from April 2018 to 18 December 2018. Some vacancies are not filled at the first attempt, so the number of interview panels in each of these years will be higher than the number of vacancies managed in those years.

We strive to be as diverse as possible with respect to the membership of our interview panels. The Scottish Government’s recruitment process complies in full with the Civil Service Commissioners’ requirements in respect to selection being based on merit and fair and open competition. These requirements do not require the protected characteristics of panel members to be monitored or reported.

We are especially keen to promote a gender balance, and our guidance states: “the panel should be gender balanced, where practicable (where not practicable you should be able to evidence steps taken to achieve this)”.

We do not record the number of interview panels constituted within the Scottish Government or within its agencies, or the protected characteristics of panel membership.

With reference to both internal and external vacancies for directly employed staff, the Scottish Government and its agencies managed 1,559 vacancies in 2017-18 and 1,617 vacancies from April 2018 to 18 December 2018. Some vacancies are not filled at the first attempt, so the number of interview panels in each of these years will be higher than the number of vacancies managed in those years.

We strive to be as diverse as possible with respect to the membership of our interview panels. The Scottish Government’s recruitment process complies in full with the Civil Service Commissioners’ requirements in respect to selection being based on merit and fair and open competition. These requirements do not require the protected characteristics of panel members to be monitored or reported.

We are especially keen to promote a gender balance, and our guidance states: “the panel should be gender balanced, where practicable (where not practicable you should be able to evidence steps taken to achieve this)”.

The Deputy Director/Senior Medical Officer to the Chief Medical Officer in Scotland has spoken to the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, who provides Chief Medical advice to the Department for Work and Pensions. They were informed that Registered Medical Practitioners would be consulted while developing the guidance, as required by legislation.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W–20703 on 8 January 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

Scottish Government responded to the questions (a) S5W-20346 and (b) S5W-20333 on 20 December 2018.

The DWP has not requested any information.

The financial impact will be depend on the CMO Guidance that is yet to be finalised. At this stage, it is not possible for Scottish Government analysts to estimate the financial impact.