Scottish public sector pays 800 staff with no permanent roles

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 25 Oct, 20:07 · Archive

Around 800 Scottish public sector staff are receiving full salaries totalling £27 million annually despite having no permanent roles.

Around 800 Scottish public sector staff members across the NHS, councils and government quangos are receiving full salaries totalling £27 million annually despite having no permanent roles, an investigation by The Sunday Times has revealed. The workers entered redeployment pools when their positions were abolished but have remained employed whilst awaiting suitable alternative positions, generally receiving comparable remuneration to their previous posts.

The situation stems from a 2007 Scottish National Party policy that introduced a prohibition on compulsory redundancies in the public sector. First Minister John Swinney has maintained support for this policy even as Scotland faces a projected £5 billion deficit. One NHS Highland employee has drawn full remuneration and benefits for 17 years without holding a specific position; the health board declined to disclose the individual's activities during this period or total compensation.

NHS Highland currently has 88 staff members in redeployment, with 26 lacking permanent roles for at least five years. Across Scotland's public sector, 255 workers have lacked fixed employment for more than 12 months. Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Craig Hoy called for the Auditor General to investigate, describing the system as 'completely out of control' and saying it represented 'a jaw-dropping indictment' of how taxpayers' money is being used.

How it is being reported

• £27m for 'ghost workers' in Scottish public sectorHunderds of Scottish public sector 'ghost workers' have been paid for up to 17 years despite their roles being abolished.Daily Mail · 25 Oct, 19:43
• SNP splurges eye-watering £27MILLION of taxpayers' money on 'zombie workers' who do not even existAround 800 Scottish public sector staff members are receiving full salaries totalling £27million annually whilst having no permanent roles to fulfil, an investigation has found. The Sunday Times revealed workers across the National Health Service, local councils and Government quangos who remain employed despite their positions no longer existing. The situation stems from a 2007 prohibition on forced job losses within Scotland's public sector, which was introduced by the Scottish National Party. First Minister John Swinney has maintained support for this policy even as Scotland confronts a…GB News · 25 Oct, 15:54

In this story: Scottish National Party · John Swinney · NHS Highland · Scotland · Craig Hoy · Scottish Conservative

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