Higher Education (Pay Modernisation)

Question Time — Scottish Executive — Enterprise, Lifelong Learning and Transport – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:00 pm on 4 November 2004.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mike Watson Mike Watson Labour 2:00, 4 November 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that the recent funding settlement secures pay modernisation in higher education in accordance with the framework agreement between employers and trade unions and what timescale for completion of this process is now envisaged. (S2O-3790)

Photo of Jim Wallace Jim Wallace Liberal Democrat

We have a good track record of investment in higher education—a record carried forward under the recent spending review 2004 announcement, which takes higher education funding to more than £1 billion per annum by 2007-08. That level of investment will give the sector the security to address pay modernisation. The detailed implementation of the pay framework agreement is, however, a matter for higher education institutions, as they are autonomous bodies. As part of the pay agreement reached between the Universities and Colleges Employers Association and higher education trade unions, institutions are expected to complete implementation of the pay settlement by August 2006.

Photo of Mike Watson Mike Watson Labour

Is the minister aware that implementation was initially intended to begin from August 2004 but that no university has yet implemented pay modernisation? The issue clearly involves the recruitment and retention of academic and research staff in our universities. When the minister comes to write his letter of guidance to the funding councils following the spending review, will he make a point of specifying that he expects the speedy implementation of pay modernisation?

Photo of Jim Wallace Jim Wallace Liberal Democrat

I am sure that Mr Watson and the chamber will recognise that, although we are not immediately engaged in the pay settlements because the universities are autonomous bodies, the appropriate means of dealing with the issue is through the letters of guidance. We work through the funding councils, which, in turn, allocate resources to the universities. We will certainly indicate that we expect the staff in our universities to be properly remunerated. That will be made clear in the guidance letters.