Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S4W-27073

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 August 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 10 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how many posts in Scottish Enterprise are subject to a recruitment and retention allowance or other market-based pay supplement and whether it will provide a breakdown of staff in these posts by (a) age, (b) gender and (c) geographical area.

Question reference: S4W-27195

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 August 2015
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 9 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how many Scottish Futures Trust staff have received (a) up to £20,000, (b) £20,001 to £50,000, (c) £50,001 to £100,000, (d) £100,001 to £200,000 and (e) over £200,001 in remuneration in each year since 2010.

The following table shows the number of Scottish Futures Trust staff broken down by pay range:

Year Ended	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
Salary received in year (£)	Staff Numbers	Staff Numbers	Staff Numbers	Staff Numbers	Staff Numbers	Staff Numbers
Up to 20,000	0	9	6	16	11	9
20,001 – 50,000	8	7	11	14	23	17
50,001 – 100,000	3	10	14	18	23	38
100,001 – 200,000	1	6	6	7	7	7
Over 200,001	0	0	0	0	0	0
TOTAL	12	32	37	55	64	71

Notes:

The table excludes Non-Executive Directors.
Remuneration is based on salary and car allowance paid per employee excluding employers’ National Insurance and pension contributions.
Salaries received in year includes part years for staff recruited in that year.

Question reference: S4W-27194

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 August 2015
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 9 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how much the Scottish Futures Trust has paid to staff in each year since 2010, also broken down by (a) salaries, (b) bonuses, (c) pension payments and (d) other remuneration.

The following table provides a breakdown of the staff costs for Scottish Futures Trust since 2009-10:

Year Ended	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
	£	£	£	£	£	£
Salaries (note 1)	663,036	1,899,328	2,394,143	3,093,457	3,719,550	4,561,652
Bonuses	-	-	-	-	-	-
Pension costs (note 2)	123,142	192,581	224,244	385,133	709,943	1,110,319
Other remuneration	-	-	-	-	-	-

Notes

This figure includes gross salary, car allowance, IAS19 holiday accrual and staff benefits (childcare vouchers etc).
This figure is made up of employer payments in the year and IAS19 service costs.

Question reference: S4W-27108

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 3 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to Network Rail regarding the future of Millerhill rail depot and the impact of its plans for the depot on staff and associated employment, and what the outcomes have been.

The future use of the Millerhill rail depot as a distribution centre for asset renewals and maintenance is a commercial matter for Network Rail, and a process is underway to determine their long term logistics strategy. This includes an option to create a new distribution centre on remaining land at Millerhill and Network Rail is expected to reach a decision on their strategy in autumn 2015. Whilst the final decision is a matter for Network Rail, Transport Scotland officials are working closely with Network Rail to understand all the options being considered and their implications.

Question reference: S4W-27103

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 3 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how much public money was used by Network Rail to purchase Millerhill rail depot.

Question reference: S4W-27107

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 3 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of what the impact would be on (a) passenger rail and freight services and (b) rail and supply-chain jobs if (i) Network Rail's proposals regarding the future of Millerhill rail depot were implemented and (ii) Millerhill rail depot was closed.

The future use of the Millerhill rail depot as a distribution centre for asset renewals and maintenance is a commercial matter for Network Rail. The existing centre, which has been in temporary use to support the construction of the Borders Railway, was acquired by Network Rail primarily for the development of a new train operator facility required as part of the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvements Programme and construction is scheduled to start in September 2015.

Network Rail is currently developing their long term logistics strategy, which includes an option to redevelop land remaining at Millerhill to create a new distribution centre. A detailed assessment of options is underway and Network Rail expects to make a decision on their strategy in autumn 2015.

Question reference: S4W-27109

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2015
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 3 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to meet the unions representing railway staff to discuss the future of Millerhill rail depot and the impact of Network Rail’s plans for the depot on this and associated employment.

Question reference: S4W-27069

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 August 2015
Current Status: Answered by Frank Mulholland QC on 1 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how many posts in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service are subject to a recruitment and retention allowance or other market-based pay supplement and whether it will provide a breakdown of staff in these posts by (a) age, (b) gender and (c) geographical area.

In the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service there are 53 posts that are subject to recruitment and retention allowance or other market-based pay supplements. This is broken down as follows:

(a) Age

Age Split	Number
<30	6
30-39	15
40-49	19
50-60+	13
Total	53

(b) Gender

Gender Split	Male	Female	Total
Number	39	14	53

Geographical Area	No. of Employees
East	30
West	15
North	8
Total	53

Question reference: S4W-27068

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 August 2015
Current Status: Answered by Frank Mulholland QC on 1 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how much money the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service pays in recruitment and retention allowances or other market-based pay supplements.

Question reference: S4W-27074

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 August 2015
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 31 August 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how much money the Scottish Prison Service pays in recruitment and retention allowances or other market-based pay supplements.