Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-37823

Asked by: Brian Whittle, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 30 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether legislation will be required to deliver an integrated social care and health record, as referenced in its Care in the Digital Age: Delivery Plan 2024-25.

The Scottish Government are committed to delivering a digital health and care record and can confirm that legislation is not required to create such a record. However, Part 2 of the Care Reform (Scotland) Bill, if passed, will create the enabling conditions for success of a digital health and care record by improving information sharing and usage between individuals and organisations within the health and social care system. The Scottish Government is listening to the views of MSPs presented at Stage 2 of the parliamentary process and considering what amendments may be useful in delivering a record that improves outcomes for people in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-37833

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 30 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what productivity measures it will introduce alongside the NHS pay deal.

Question reference: S6W-36932

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 30 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many civil servants it currently employs, broken down by directorate, and how this compares with staffing levels in 2016.

The Scottish government publish official workforce statistics on a quarterly basis.

The latest available data, which is for December 2024 and includes a times series back to March 2012 is available here Scottish Government workforce information - gov.scot.

The following tables provide a breakdown of FTE staff by directorate for December 2024 and March 2016.

SG Core FTE workforce by directorate - December 2024
DG	Directorate	FTE
DG COM	DIRECTOR-GENERAL COMMUNITIES	1
	DIRECTORATE FOR CLADDING REMEDIATION	49
	DIRECTORATE FOR EQUALITY, INCLUSION & HUMAN RIGHTS	107
	DIRECTORATE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING	267
	DIRECTORATE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE REFORM	53
	DIRECTORATE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY	419
	DIRECTORATE FOR TACKLING CHILD POVERTY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE	127
	DIRECTORATE FOR UKRAINE RESETTLEMENT	38
DG CORP	DG : CORPORATE	1
	DIRECTOR-GENERAL CORPORATE	3
	DIRECTORATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND MINISTERIAL SUPPORT	391
	DIRECTORATE FOR CORPORATE TRANSFORMATION AND WORKPLACE	262
	DIRECTORATE FOR COVID INQUIRIES	31
	DIRECTORATE FOR DIGITAL	611
	DIRECTORATE FOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT	150
	DIRECTORATE FOR LEGAL SERVICES (SOLICITOR TO THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT)	328
	DIRECTORATE FOR PEOPLE	284
	DIRECTORATE FOR PROPRIETY AND ETHICS	9
	SCOTTISH PROCUREMENT AND COMMERCIAL DIRECTORATE	196
DG ECON	DG : ECONOMY BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT	1
	DIRECTOR-GENERAL ECONOMY	1
	DIRECTORATE FOR BUSINESS AND BETTER REGULATION	45
	DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF ECONOMIST	107
	DIRECTORATE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT	225
	DIRECTORATE FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT	79
	DIRECTORATE FOR JOBS AND WELLBEING ECONOMY	115
DG EJ	DIRECTOR-GENERAL EDUCATION AND JUSTICE	3
	DIRECTORATE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES	330
	DIRECTORATE FOR EDUCATION REFORM	83
	DIRECTORATE FOR JUSTICE	147
	DIRECTORATE FOR LEARNING	123
	DIRECTORATE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING AND SKILLS	103
	DIRECTORATE FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES	170
DG HLTHSC	DG : HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE	1
	DIRECTOR-GENERAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE	1
	DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER	67
	DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF NURSING OFFICER	54
	DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, NHS SCOTLAND	171
	DIRECTORATE FOR DIGITAL HEALTH AND CARE	62
	DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE FINANCE, DIGITAL AND GOVERNANCE	86
	DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTH WORKFORCE	83
	DIRECTORATE FOR MENTAL HEALTH	153
	DIRECTORATE FOR POPULATION HEALTH	268
	DIRECTORATE FOR PRIMARY CARE	68
	DIRECTORATE FOR SOCIAL CARE AND NATIONAL CARE SERVICE DEVELOPMENT	203
DG NZ	DIRECTOR-GENERAL NET ZERO	2
	DIRECTORATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY (ARE)	988
	DIRECTORATE FOR ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE	358
	DIRECTORATE FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTRY	192
	DIRECTORATE FOR MARINE SCOTLAND	734
	DIRECTORATE FOR OFFSHORE WIND	48
DG SE	DIRECTOR-GENERAL SCOTTISH EXCHEQUER	1
	DIRECTORATE FOR BUDGET & PUBLIC SPENDING	32
	DIRECTORATE FOR FISCAL POLICY AND CONSTITUTION	9
	DIRECTORATE FOR FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY AND EXCHEQUER DEVELOPMENT	26
	DIRECTORATE FOR INTERNAL AUDIT AND ASSURANCE	56
	DIRECTORATE FOR TAX AND REVENUES	32
DG SEA	DIRECTOR-GENERAL STRATEGY AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS	1
	DIRECTORATE FOR CONSTITUTION	57
	DIRECTORATE FOR CULTURE AND MAJOR EVENTS	49
	DIRECTORATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS	115
	DIRECTORATE FOR PERFORMANCE, DELIVERY AND RESILIENCE	147
	DIRECTORATE FOR STRATEGY	16
	EU DIRECTORATE	9
	PARLIAMENTARY COUNSEL OFFICE	25
PSEC	PERMANENT SECRETARY	1
All		8975

SG Core FTE workforce by directorate - March 2016
DG	Directorate	FTE
DG COM	COMMUNITIES	3
	DG COM	1
	DIRECTORATE FOR DIGITAL	286
	DIRECTORATE FOR HOUSING, REGENERATION AND WELFARE	281
	DIRECTORATE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITIES	185
DG EEI	CHIEF SCIENTIFIC ADVISER FOR RURAL AFFAIRS, FOOD AND THE ENVIRONMENT	1
	DG CO-ORDINATION - ENTERPRISE, ENVIRONMENT & INNOVATION	3
	DG EEI	1
	DIRECTORATE FOR AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND RURAL COMMUNITIES	887
	DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF ECONOMIST	59
	DIRECTORATE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT	165
	DIRECTORATE FOR ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE	86
	DIRECTORATE FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTRY	102
	DIRECTORATE FOR MARINE SCOTLAND	643
	ENTERPRISE, ENVIRONMENT & INNOVATION BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT	1
	SCOTTISH DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL	33
DG FIN	DG FIN	1
	DIRECTORATE FOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT	89
	DIRECTORATE FOR FINANCIAL STRATEGY	31
	DIRECTORATE FOR INTERNAL AUDIT	30
	DIRECTORATE FOR LEGAL SERVICES (SOLICITOR TO THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT)	185
	FINANCE	3
	PARLIAMENTARY COUNSEL OFFICE	19
	SCOTTISH PROCUREMENT AND COMMERCIAL DIRECTORATE	154
DG HLTHSC	DG HLTHSC	1
	DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER	22
	DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF NURSING OFFICER	29
	DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE INTEGRATION	29
	DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTH FINANCE	21
	DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTH PERFORMANCE AND DELIVERY	47
	DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTH WORKFORCE	35
	DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTHCARE QUALITY AND STRATEGY	61
	DIRECTORATE FOR POPULATION HEALTH IMPROVEMENT	180
	HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE	1
	OFFICE OF THE DG HSC AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE NHSSCOTLAND	12
DG LAJ	DIRECTORATE FOR ADVANCED LEARNING AND SCIENCE	52
	DIRECTORATE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES	112
	DIRECTORATE FOR EDUCATION ANALYTICAL SERVICES	54
	DIRECTORATE FOR FAIR WORK	57
	DIRECTORATE FOR JUSTICE	126
	DIRECTORATE FOR LEARNING	89
	DIRECTORATE FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES	199
	LEARNING & JUSTICE	7
	LEARNING AND JUSTICE	1
DG SEA	DG SEA	1
	DIRECTORATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND MINISTERIAL SUPPORT	112
	DIRECTORATE FOR CULTURE, EUROPE AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS	95
	DIRECTORATE FOR PEOPLE	311
	DIRECTORATE FOR STRATEGY AND CONSTITUTION	106
	MINISTERIAL PRIVATE OFFICES	131
	STRATEGY AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS	4
PSEC	PERMANENT-SECRETARY	5
PSEC	PSEC	1
All		5152

Question reference: S6W-36933

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 30 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of any increase in the total cost of its civil service since 2016 is accounted for by increases in (a) headcount and (b) salary levels.

The cost of the Scottish Governments Directly employed workforce rose from £239M in 2015-16 to £623M in 2023-24 - An increase of 161%.

Scottish Government Directly employed Workforce Costs (£K)
	2015-16	2023-24
Grand Total	238,680	622,581

Source – Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts

The Scottish government publish official workforce statistics on a quarterly basis. Scottish Government workforce information - gov.scot.

These figures show that the headcount of the Scottish Government increased by 71% from March 2016 to March 2024.

Since 2016 the average increase in Salary for SG employees has differed by grade, as detailed in the following table.

Average (mean) Salary by Grade - 2016 to 2024
	Mar-16	Mar-24	Percentage Increase
A3	18,687	26,158	40%
A4	21,344	29,046	36%
B1	24,824	32,797	32%
B2	30,015	38,684	29%
B3	39,236	49,425	26%
Fast Stream	30,533	38,524	26%
C1	51,575	64,550	25%
C2	62,275	79,606	28%
C3	67,428	84,679	26%
SCS	82,174	96,445	17%
Legal Trainee	25,304	34,722	37%
Marine Grades	32,782	48,520	48%

Source - Scottish Government HR Management Information

Question reference: S6W-37735

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 30 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been on a waiting list for a social care assessment in each year since 2018, also broken down by NHS board.

The information requested is not held centrally for all years requested.

However, weekly data on the number of people waiting for a social care assessment is published monthly by Public Health Scotland at Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) level. The dashboard can be accessed via the following link:

People requiring a Social Care assessment and Care at Home services

Data is available from 24 October 2022 onwards. Comparisons over time should be made with caution due to a change in definitions implemented in January 2024.

Comparison of figures between HSCPs should also be made with caution and should be done in conjunction with the data quality notes available in the dashboard.

Not all Partnerships were able to provide all data. The data quality section of the dashboard provides more information on each of the partnerships' ability to provide data.

Question reference: S6W-37737

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 30 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what any shortfall in the social care workforce has been, in terms of hours of unmet care, since 2018, broken down by NHS board.

While the Scottish Government has overall responsibility for health and social care support policy in Scotland, it is for local Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) to ensure that social care support services are in place to provide their population with the appropriate support in the right place and at the right time.

The Scottish Government does not hold information centrally in relation HSCP’s workforce numbers and in turn could not comment on how this impacts unmet need. This information would need to be provided by local areas themselves.

We understand the pressures being faced and addressing long waiting times for social care support is one of the reasons that the 2025-26 Budget prioritised both the Local Government Settlement and the Health & Social Care portfolio with both receiving record funding allocations.

This includes almost £2.2bn for social care and integration – increasing investment by £1.2bn since 2021-22. On top of that, our Budget makes a record £15 billion available for councils for 2025-26.

Question reference: S6W-37739

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 30 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the number of unmet care hours due to a shortage of carers in each year since 2018, broken down by NHS board.

Health and Social Care Partnerships provide Public Health Scotland with a weekly snapshot of the current demand for Care at Home services. The data includes information on the total number of hours of care that people were waiting to receive, following an assessment of their needs. This information is available via the following weblink: Dashboard - People requiring a social care assessment and care at home services.

Please note that the information does not include the reasons why these hours of care were yet to be provided, nor does the Scottish Government hold information on local social care staffing levels.

Question reference: S6W-38202

Asked by: Karen Adam, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2025
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 30 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its £30 million Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund.

I can advise Parliament that the Scottish Government’s £30 million Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Fund has now been fully allocated to local authorities to enable them to work in partnership with the private sector to attract matched investment and deliver approximately 6,000 additional public charge points across Scotland by 2030.

Scotland currently has over 6,800 public charge points and is on track to meet its commitment of enabling approximately 24,000 additional public EV charge points by 2030, the majority of which will be funded and delivered by the private sector.

This fund prioritises the delivery of new public EV charging infrastructure in those parts of Scotland less likely to benefit from stand-alone private sector investment in public charging infrastructure.

I can further advise that through the fund, the Scottish Government has provided the North of Scotland partnership, consisting of Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Highland and Moray councils, with over £7 million to transform charging infrastructure across the North of Scotland.

Our investment has enabled this partnership to leverage over £4.9 million of additional matched private sector investment over the next three years to ensure that drivers of electric vehicles in the North of Scotland experience the availability, accessibility and reliability of public EV charging they need and deserve.

Question reference: S6O-04727

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 29 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that rape victims who request free court transcripts under the pilot scheme are waiting seven months on average to receive their transcript.

I am sorry that anyone has had to wait to receive their transcript due to delays in the pilot scheme for transcripts. We have been working closely with Scottish Court and Tribunal Service to address the issues that have been raised in a minority of these applications. SCTS have now written to applicants to provide them with an update on their application and to advise that they will provide regular updates every three weeks. Changes have also been made to their website to provide clearer information about expected timescales and the updates that will be provided.

Question reference: S6W-36934

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 29 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what measurable progress has been made towards a "reset" of the public sector, as referenced by the Deputy First Minister on 31 May 2022.

Improving public services and delivering a more efficient, effective and appropriately sized public sector workforce is a key priority for this government.

We published a detailed update to Finance and Public Administration Committee on 19 December 2023 setting out a public service reform plan. Further updates were provided on 23 September 2024 and 21 December 2024, and we are committed to providing the Committee with 6 monthly updates on the programme. We will shortly publish our Public Service Reform Strategy which will build upon our existing commitment and set out our priorities for reform. This will focus on how the Scottish Government will enable system change to drive the scale and pace of reform.

Changes to the shape and size of our public sector workforce will be done in partnership with employers and trade unions, based on our aims of providing high quality, sustainable public services for the people of Scotland.

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