Chamber and committees

The Third Sector Interfaces, including West Lothian Voluntary Sector Gateway, are expected to deliver on a variety of outcomes aimed at strengthening the role of the third sector in Scottish civic society. The Scottish Government has been actively engaging with the West Lothian Voluntary Sector Gateway in relation to its work and to seek to address a number of matters.

Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) is the Scottish Government’s strategic framework initiative for responding to redundancy situations. The operation of PACE is overseen by the Ministerial PACE Partnership which is chaired by the Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism, Fergus Ewing MSP and comprises the Scottish Government together with 21 organisations to oversee a continuous improvement programme to enhance the operation of PACE.

Skills Development Scotland delivers PACE on behalf of the Scottish Government in conjunction with other key partners including the Department for Work and Pensions. In addition to the National PACE team, there are 18 local PACE Teams across Scotland to ensure speedy and effective responses to redundancy situations. Other agencies also involved in PACE include HM Revenue and Customs, the STUC and its affiliated trade unions, Citizens Advice Bureaux, local training providers, colleges and universities.

Given that PACE is a framework which brings together various organisations to provide a co-ordinated approach to delivery of support for those facing redundancy, it is not possible to quantify a specific budget for PACE activity.

Through our initiative for responding to redundancy situations, Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE), we will provide support for any employees who may be facing redundancy following the announcement by Kingfisher that the B&Q store in Livingston is to close.

I understand that the closure will take place at a date still to be determined but that the closure will not take place before the end of February 2016.

I can confirm that the local PACE chair has contacted the B&Q store in Livingston to offer support and that this approach will be followed up.

PACE support is available for all individuals affected by redundancy, no matter the size of the business nor how many employees are involved. Whenever we become aware of individuals facing redundancy, PACE support is offered.

PACE support was provided for Police Scotland employees in Dumfries, Stirling and Glenrothes in January and February 2015 in relation to the relocation of Police Scotland control rooms.

No PACE support has been required by colleges during this or during the last financial year.

PACE support has been provided to Highland Council and to Fife Council during this financial year and to Fife Council and to East Ayrshire Council during the last financial year.

Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) is the Scottish Government’s strategic framework initiative for responding to redundancy situations. PACE offers free and impartial advice and is available to all individuals affected by redundancy, no matter the size of the business or how many employees are involved.

Skills Development Scotland delivers PACE on behalf of the Scottish Government in conjunction with other key partners including the Department for Work and Pensions. In addition to the National PACE Team, there are 18 local PACE teams across Scotland to ensure speedy and effective responses to redundancy situations.

Information on PACE interventions during the last four years is contained in the following table.

Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) is the Scottish Government's initiative dedicated to helping individuals and employers with the advice and support they need when faced with redundancy.

PACE support is available for all individuals affected by redundancy, no matter the size of the business nor how many employees are involved. PACE also works with insolvency practitioners to provide support where a business has gone into administration or liquidation.

Skills Development Scotland delivers PACE on behalf of the Scottish Government in conjunction with other key partners including the Department for Work and Pensions. In addition to the National PACE Team, there are 18 local PACE teams across Scotland to ensure speedy and effective responses to redundancy situations.

Whenever we become aware of individuals facing redundancy, PACE support is offered. Each PACE intervention is tailored to meet the needs of the employer and employees and may include on site delivery by PACE Partners.

PACE support is available for all individuals affected by redundancy, no matter the size of the business nor how many employees are involved. Whenever we become aware of individuals facing redundancy, PACE support is offered.

With regard to PACE support for public sector workers, many reductions in the public sector have been achieved on a voluntary basis.

During this financial year, PACE support has been provided for employees from the following public sector agencies: Highland Council, Fife Council and HM Revenue and Customs.

PACE support has also been offered to Angus Council and West Lothian Council but both authorities have advised that support was not required.

When PACE support was offered to Falkirk Council and Edinburgh City Council, as consultations are continuing with employees, both authorities advised that support was not required at present.

PACE chairs have made contact and offered PACE support and the response has been:

Not required - Angus and West Lothian

Not required at present - Discussion consultations ongoing with employees - Edinburgh and Falkirk

Colleges:

No PACE support has been provided to colleges during this financial year. No HR1s for colleges have been received by PACE this financial year.

Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) is the Scottish Government’s initiative for responding to redundancy situations. Through providing skills development and employability support, PACE aims to minimise the time individuals affected by redundancy are out of work.

The operation of PACE is overseen by the Ministerial PACE Partnership which is chaired by the Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism, Fergus Ewing MSP and comprises the Scottish Government together with 21 organisations to oversee a continuous improvement programme to enhance the operation of PACE.

As part of that continuous improvement programme, in order to gauge the influence of PACE and to consider the quality of provision of PACE support, we undertook a PACE Client Experience Survey in 2010, 2012 and most recently 2014. The 2014 survey found that PACE is perceived as having a positive influence on people’s ability to find work and that 72% of those surveyed who had received PACE support had gone into employment. T link to the research is below.

http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0046/00460000.pdf.

Bòrd na Gidhlig does not currently pay any recruitment and retention allowances or similar market-based pay supplements.