Chamber
Plenary, 20 Feb 2003
20 Feb 2003 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Question Time
Executive Agencies and Non-departmental Public Bodies (Relocation)
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Does the minister accept the fact that, as yet, the relocation programme has not made a significant impact in ensuring that more of Scotland's communities share in the economic and social benefits? Glasgow has almost 20 civil service jobs per thousand and Edinburgh has 28 per thousand, while Tayside has only 9 per thousand. Does he agree that distributing civil service jobs away from the central belt and the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh to cities such as Dundee, would save the country hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money every year in the cost of office space and car parking? Has the Executive any plans to conduct a full cost-benefit analysis of the possible savings to be made in future relocations to ensure that they secure value for money?
In the same item of business
7. Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
To ask the Scottish Executive what factors will be taken into account in forthcoming decisions on the relocation of staff and offices of executive agencies a...
The Minister for Finance and Public Services (Mr Andy Kerr):
Lab
Relocation decisions are based on a range of factors. Those include costs, the quality and efficiency of service, economic factors such as unemployment and o...
Irene McGugan:
SNP
Does the minister accept the fact that, as yet, the relocation programme has not made a significant impact in ensuring that more of Scotland's communities sh...
Mr Kerr:
Lab
The Executive is doing that. Six hundred posts have been, or are planned to be, transferred out of Edinburgh. The relocations include the good work that Kate...
Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con):
Con
Given that it might be the natural wish of many of the employees of the relevant bodies and agencies to be as far away from here as possible, and that Inverc...
Mr Kerr:
Lab
All parts of Scotland are under consideration, for different and valid reasons. For example, the Executive has changed its policy on the relocation of small ...
Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab):
Lab
Is the minister aware of the partnership approach that is being adopted by the Ayrshire economic forum in its bid for Common Services Agency jobs? When will ...
Mr Kerr:
Lab
I congratulate Irene Oldfather on her hard constituency work on relocation issues. I get copies of the Irvine Times and The Irvine Herald and Kilwinning Chro...
Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD):
LD
When will the Executive announce the relocation out of Edinburgh of Scottish Natural Heritage? The decision on that has been long delayed, even according to ...
Mr Kerr:
Lab
Other people have advised me of better locations. It is clear that the Executive must decide on the best location based on the criteria that I indicated. How...