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The outcome of negotiations between the UK Government and the Teachers’ Pensions Scheme for England and Wales have still to be finalised. However, Scottish Ministers will shortly begin negotiations with trade union and employer representatives on long term reforms of the Scottish Teachers’ Superannuation Scheme.

A series of discussions have taken place with employers, trade unions and staff associations on pension reforms since the current administration came to power in May 2011.

The Scottish Government requested confirmation from the UK Government of the cost ceiling for the Scottish Teachers’ Superannuation Scheme on 22 December 2011. A response has still to be received.

The next valuation of the Scottish Teachers’ Superannuation Scheme will be undertaken as part of the longer term scheme reform.

The Scottish Government intend to introduce a tiered member contribution structure with effect from 1 April 2012 by means of a Scottish Statutory Instrument which will be laid in Parliament on 2 March 2012. The Scottish Government share public sector workers’ concerns about the level and reasons for these increases, which is why we have publicly opposed them. However, the UK Government has said that it will reduce the Scottish Budget by £100 million in 2012-13 alone if we do not implement these increases.

The last completed valuation of the Scottish Teachers’ Superannuation Scheme was published in 2008 and covered the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2005.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03546 on 8 November 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The additional income raised from the public health supplement will contribute to the decisive shift to preventative spend measures. The government will include in future draft budgets an assessment of the progress being made towards a more preventative approach.

The Scottish Ministers have one owned property empty: Jeanfield House, 4 Jeanfield Road, Perth. Underutilisation fluctuates across the estate as business changes. With the contraction in staff numbers currently underway, and changing working practices, the Scottish Government is working towards occupying 25% less space by 2015.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05783 on 29 February 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The Scottish Government continues to work closely with the police and other law enforcement agencies on security planning for the London 2012 Olympics and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Issues associated with trafficking in human beings are embedded in the security planning for the Games.