Seòmar agus comataidhean

I have written to UK Government Ministers seeking clarification on timing and to date have not received proposals outlining when responsibility for the management and operation of the employment tribunal will transfer.

In the meantime discussions between the UK Government and the Scottish Government are continuing.

The Scottish Government (SG) is subject to Public Sector Pay Policy and as such does not pay performance bonuses or other performance related payments to staff below Senior Civil Service (SCS) level. The pay of SCS is a reserved matter and operates within the UK Cabinet Office pay and performance management framework; the current SCS pay system, which has been in existence since 2001, is performance related. The SG’s senior management team determine the SG SCS pay strategy each year in accordance with UK Cabinet Office pay framework and with due regard to Scottish Public Sector Pay Policy. In line with the latter, it has not awarded any non-consolidated performance payments to SG SCS staff in the last five years.

There are two exceptions where performance payments have been paid:

A payment was made to a single SCS member of staff under a contractual arrangement agreed at the time the individual commenced employment.

A payment was made in December 2015 to an individual who transferred to the SG from another (UK) Government Department and payment was made on behalf of the exporting organisation.

Further details have been withheld as it may enable identification of the specific members of staff.

Detail of the gender pay gap in the Scottish Government was given in answer to question S5W-07834 on 21 March 2017. 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.

The Scottish Government has funded the Mark Scott Leadership for Life Award through the Outward Bound Trust from 2012-13. The funding broken down by financial year:

£220,000 in 2012-13;

£200,000 in 2013-14;

£180,000 in 2014-15;

£100,000 in 2015-16;

£75,000 in 2016-17.

The Scottish Government has committed a further £75,000 of funding in 2017-18 for the Award.

Responsibility for Scotland’s Census lies with the Registrar General for Scotland and National Records of Scotland (NRS). Their report of the 2021 Census Topic Consultation (published August 2016) provides information about the feedback they received and outlines their intended next steps. It highlights that whilst NRS proposes to recommend that information on economic activity, occupation and industry should continue to be collected in the 2021 Census, they are seeking further information on potential questions, or changes to questions, on: the last year worked, supervisory status, hours worked, and voluntary and unpaid work.

NRS confirms that they will be working throughout 2017 to research these issues and the question set that will be subsequently proposed to the Scottish Parliament. This process is underway and discussions are being sought with a range of stakeholders. As part of this, NRS intends engaging with the Scottish Parliament and its 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.