Written Question · S4W-16578 · Session 4
Whether the then Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing agreed to be pictured with ATOS to announce its sponsorship of the 2014 Commonw…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the then Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing agreed to be pictured with ATOS to announce its sponsorship of the 2014 Commonwealth Games and when the request was made.
The answer
The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee invited the Deputy First Minister on 9 February 2012 to participate in the event to announce their sponsorship agreement with Atos, which took place on 16 March 2012.
All Games Partners including representatives from Glasgow City Council, Commonwealth Games Scotland and the Scottish Government attended the event to mark the significant contribution which Atos sponsorship will make towards the successful delivery of the Games.
Atos is providing technology that will be used for accreditation services, volunteer recruitment and the instant relaying of results, all of which shall enhance the Glasgow 2014 Games experience. All Games Partners were pictured to mark the announcement.
The SG has every sympathy with individuals and families who have been adversely affected by the UK Government’s welfare reforms. Whilst appreciating that an assessment process is necessary, the alarming stories of peoples’ experiences suggest that what is in place just now is causing a great deal of undue stress and hardship to people across Scotland.
That is why Housing Minister, Margaret Burgess, wrote recently to the UK Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, highlighting the Scottish Government’s concerns at Atos and DWP’s administering of the Work Capability Assessment process and urging him to take the necessary steps to ensure that the very worrying cases that are being reported are never repeated.
Securing sponsors is a matter for the organising committee and it should be acknowledged that Glasgow 2014’s contract with Atos do not relate in any way to the services it provides on behalf of DWP. In addition, securing sponsorship is vital to the success of the Games and to reduce the need for additional public funds to stage them.
All Games Partners including representatives from Glasgow City Council, Commonwealth Games Scotland and the Scottish Government attended the event to mark the significant contribution which Atos sponsorship will make towards the successful delivery of the Games.
Atos is providing technology that will be used for accreditation services, volunteer recruitment and the instant relaying of results, all of which shall enhance the Glasgow 2014 Games experience. All Games Partners were pictured to mark the announcement.
The SG has every sympathy with individuals and families who have been adversely affected by the UK Government’s welfare reforms. Whilst appreciating that an assessment process is necessary, the alarming stories of peoples’ experiences suggest that what is in place just now is causing a great deal of undue stress and hardship to people across Scotland.
That is why Housing Minister, Margaret Burgess, wrote recently to the UK Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, highlighting the Scottish Government’s concerns at Atos and DWP’s administering of the Work Capability Assessment process and urging him to take the necessary steps to ensure that the very worrying cases that are being reported are never repeated.
Securing sponsors is a matter for the organising committee and it should be acknowledged that Glasgow 2014’s contract with Atos do not relate in any way to the services it provides on behalf of DWP. In addition, securing sponsorship is vital to the success of the Games and to reduce the need for additional public funds to stage them.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S4W-16578 by reference.