SNP MSP for Glasgow, Sandra White, today called on the Executive to carry out an urgent review of its staffing levels after it emerged that overtime payments to ministerial staff soared by 94 per cent in the last six years.

The figure was revealed in a written answer from Finance Minister Tom McCabe, which showed that overtime payments increased from £191,000 in 1999-2000 to a total of £370,000 split between only 67 staff in 2003-04, the equivalent of £5522 each.

Commenting, Ms White said:

"This staggering increase in overtime payments raises a series of unanswered questions that the Executive must now address.

"Who has received these overtime payments, and how much have they been paid? Why are they necessary and is this really the most efficient use of Executive funds?

"Staff should, of course, be paid for any overtime they work, but such a massive increase in overtime payments points towards serious staffing problems within the Executive.

"It is clear that we now need an urgent review of staff and staffing costs within the Executive to ensure a fair deal for staff and value for money for the people of Scotland.

"Scots have a right to expect value for money from government which, to date, this Labour-led Executive has failed to deliver."

Note:

The full details of Tom McCabe's written answer are given below:

Scottish Executive Staff Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of overtime payments for ministerial staff and advisers and what the total time reallocated through time off in lieu was for those staff in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002, (e) 2003 and (f) 2004.

Holding answer issued: 26 April 2005  (S2W-15946)

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested for staff working in ministerial private offices is provided in the following table. The figures include the staff who provide support for the special advisers but do not include the special advisers themselves as they are not eligible to claim overtime payments. There are currently 67 staff who work in ministerial private offices.

Any arrangements for staff to take time off in lieu are made locally with the line manager of each office and this information is not held centrally.