Freedom of Information Request Reference: 10827
Date Received: 06/11/2025
Summary:
1. Questions 1, 2 and 9. I will follow up with Data Protection team. Regarding Q9, it is simply not true that I was copied into all the emails. I know emails were exchanged between Kenny Scott and Craig Black in early July and I was not copied in. At this time I asked Kenny Scott to forward them to me but he declined. 2. . Question 3. This does not answer my question. I asked specifically and what checks and balances are in place, not whether there are checks and balances are in place. 'Ongoing monitoring' is not a satisfactory answer. What does this mean? What do they actually do? I have now spoken to others in my position and it appears the matter comes to light when they tell payroll and not because payroll unearthed the problem. Regarding eligibility and 2023. It is true SPPA rules changed at this time and some people became eligible to rejoin this particular scheme. However, NHS Lothian's legal duty to auto-enrol these people into an occupational scheme goes back many years before this. The change with the SPPA in 2023, I believe, served primarily as an external catalyst that unearthed people that had missed out for years. 3. Question 4. Perhaps this highlights the need to keep a central records to establish improved administration of the scheme to ensure NHS Lothian is compliant with their legal duties. 4. Question 5. I can do this. 5. Question 6. Does not answer the question have they made people aware. This is rather them being made aware by people affected by the failure to auto- enrol. 6. Questions 7&8. I have subsequently been made aware that it is the Finance Dept that are responsible for such matters so perhaps better these questions are addressed to them. I find it hard to believe there are no guideline/ policies regarding ex gratia and special payments generally if not specific to pensions. One example of such payments might be when an employee incurs bank charges due to a mistake in salary payments by Payroll. Such payments do exist and responsibility is taken in such matters.
1. Questions 1, 2 and 9. I will follow up with Data Protection team. Regarding Q9, it is simply not true that I was copied into all the emails. I know emails were exchanged between Kenny Scott and Craig Black in early July and I was not copied in. At this time I asked Kenny Scott to forward them to me but he declined. 2. . Question 3. This does not answer my question. I asked specifically and what checks and balances are in place, not whether there are checks and balances are in place. 'Ongoing monitoring' is not a satisfactory answer. What does this mean? What do they actually do? I have now spoken to others in my position and it appears the matter comes to light when they tell payroll and not because payroll unearthed the problem. Regarding eligibility and 2023. It is true SPPA rules changed at this time and some people became eligible to rejoin this particular scheme. However, NHS Lothian's legal duty to auto-enrol these people into an occupational scheme goes back many years before this. The change with the SPPA in 2023, I believe, served primarily as an external catalyst that unearthed people that had missed out for years. 3. Question 4. Perhaps this highlights the need to keep a central records to establish improved administration of the scheme to ensure NHS Lothian is compliant with their legal duties. 4. Question 5. I can do this. 5. Question 6. Does not answer the question have they made people aware. This is rather them being made aware by people affected by the failure to auto- enrol. 6. Questions 7&8. I have subsequently been made aware that it is the Finance Dept that are responsible for such matters so perhaps better these questions are addressed to them. I find it hard to believe there are no guideline/ policies regarding ex gratia and special payments generally if not specific to pensions. One example of such payments might be when an employee incurs bank charges due to a mistake in salary payments by Payroll. Such payments do exist and responsibility is taken in such matters.
Date of Response: 15/12/2025
View Response: 10827.pdf
View Response: 10827.pdf
