To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17745 by Nicola Sturgeon on 19 November 2008, when it expects the 8,274 members of NHS staff still to be paid arrears after assimilation under Agenda for Change will be paid the arrears.

Since my previous answer further progress has been made and at the end of November the number waiting for arrears had come down to 5,534.

To put this into context, the effective date of introduction of Agenda for Change was 1 October 2004. When the current administration took office in May 2007, 124,381 staff had been assimilated and 59% of these had been assessed for arrears with these paid where appropriate. By the end of November 2008, the number assimilated had increased to 175,004 and the percentage who had received payment of arrears had been increased to 93%.

Boards are currently working hard to try to have all substantive staff assimilated by the end of the year. Thereafter, I would expect boards to ensure payment of arrears are processed as early as possible in the new year. Progress will be monitored on a monthly basis.