Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 18 March 2026 [Draft]
18 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Real Living Wage
While key powers over employment law remain reserved to the United Kingdom Government, including those on the minimum wage, we have made significant progress towards our ambitious goal of becoming a leading fair work nation. Around 88.7 per cent of Scottish employees over 18 years of age are paid the real living wage or above, which is the highest proportion in the UK countries. Although the share of Scottish employees paid the real living wage or above was slightly lower in 2025 than in 2023, that has also happened in other parts of the UK and reflects a range of national and international pressures and costs in recent years.
In the same item of business
7. Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason, despite an increase in the number of businesses pledging to pay the real living wage, the percentage of peopl...
The Minister for Business and Employment (Richard Lochhead)
SNP
While key powers over employment law remain reserved to the United Kingdom Government, including those on the minimum wage, we have made significant progress...
Alexander Stewart
Con
Nobody on the Conservative benches opposes fair pay for workers, but the minister must recognise that the gap between the number of accredited employers and ...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
As discussed in previous answers, businesses in Scotland face a number of pressures, not least rising national insurance contributions and rising energy cost...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
Question 8 was not lodged.That concludes portfolio questions on Deputy First Minister responsibilities, economy and Gaelic.