Procurement Reform (Scotland) Bill

Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at on 7 November 2013.

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Photo of John Swinney John Swinney Scottish National Party

I am very sympathetic to the points that Mr Bibby has raised. Indeed, as the finance minister in a Government that applied the living wage to the public sector pay policy over which it presides, I am very proud of that commitment.

As Mr Bibby will acknowledge and as has been widely acknowledged in this debate, some very significant practical and legal issues that have emerged as a result of the constraints that I mentioned with regard to the EU’s position restrict our ability to oblige contractors to pay the living wage. However, in Scottish living wage week, I want to make clear the Scottish Government’s strong and emphatic support for the application of the living wage. We are leading by example and look to other organisations to follow that example.