[Scotland] Newly nationalised ScotRail won’t reveal senior bosses’ salaries

ScotRail - Scotland’s newly nationalised rail service has refused to disclose the salaries of its senior bosses, Daily Record reports.

Earlier this month, ScotRail was taken under public ownership but the wages of the service’s high-level managers have so far remained a secret.

The Sunday Mail reportedly asked the operator to state the pay of three new officials: chief operating officer Joanne Maguire and new body Scottish Rail Holdings’ chief exec officer Chris Gibb and finance boss David Lowrie.

Former MD Alex Hynes’s £330,000-a-year salary as the head of new umbrella group Scotland’s Railways was revealed earlier this year while the rail service was still owned by private operator Abellio but the amount under public ownership has not been disclosed.

Michael Hogg - of industry union the RMT - said, “We’ve been asking ScotRail for pay levels and have been told they will be disclosed in annual accounts.

“That simply isn’t good enough. The public, and our members, should be told immediately.”

In response ScotRail said it would not reveal the top management team’s salary until Freedom of Information requests are made. And even then the disclosure could take three months.

The law forces public bodies to disclose information considered to be in the public interest, usually within 28 days of a request.

Since 2010 Scottish non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) and public corporations are required to disclose senior leadership pay as part of a transparency drive.

The rail provider was renationalised on April 1. Ms Maguire was hired as the most senior official despite union complaints that she had no rail experience. Her previous role was as a university vice principal of resources.

The Aslef train drivers’ union called the decision to appoint her “staggering”.

Mr Gibb - CEO of ScotRail management body Scottish Rail Holdings - was questioned about a conflict of interest this year after the Sunday Mail revealed he was a director of a sideline family business that consults for other transport companies.

Checks carried out on April 9 revealed that he still controls private consultancy firm CLGR Ltd.

Scottish Labour’s Neil Bibby said, “We need total transparency.” And Scottish Lib Dems’ Jill Reilly said, “It’s an ill omen that nationalised ScotRail is starting in such a secretive fashion.”

ScotRail said, “This information will be published in the coming weeks.”

The Daily Record approached the Scottish Government for comment.

Source: Daily Record

(Link and quotes via original reporting)

ScotRail - Scotland’s newly nationalised rail service has refused to disclose the salaries of its senior bosses, Daily Record reports.

Earlier this month, ScotRail was taken under public ownership but the wages of the service’s high-level managers have so far remained a secret.

The Sunday Mail reportedly asked the operator to state the pay of three new officials: chief operating officer Joanne Maguire and new body Scottish Rail Holdings’ chief exec officer Chris Gibb and finance boss David Lowrie.

Former MD Alex Hynes’s £330,000-a-year salary as the head of new umbrella group Scotland’s Railways was revealed earlier this year while the rail service was still owned by private operator Abellio but the amount under public ownership has not been disclosed.

Michael Hogg - of industry union the RMT - said, “We’ve been asking ScotRail for pay levels and have been told they will be disclosed in annual accounts.

“That simply isn’t good enough. The public, and our members, should be told immediately.”

In response ScotRail said it would not reveal the top management team’s salary until Freedom of Information requests are made. And even then the disclosure could take three months.

The law forces public bodies to disclose information considered to be in the public interest, usually within 28 days of a request.

Since 2010 Scottish non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) and public corporations are required to disclose senior leadership pay as part of a transparency drive.

The rail provider was renationalised on April 1. Ms Maguire was hired as the most senior official despite union complaints that she had no rail experience. Her previous role was as a university vice principal of resources.

The Aslef train drivers’ union called the decision to appoint her “staggering”.

Mr Gibb - CEO of ScotRail management body Scottish Rail Holdings - was questioned about a conflict of interest this year after the Sunday Mail revealed he was a director of a sideline family business that consults for other transport companies.

Checks carried out on April 9 revealed that he still controls private consultancy firm CLGR Ltd.

Scottish Labour’s Neil Bibby said, “We need total transparency.” And Scottish Lib Dems’ Jill Reilly said, “It’s an ill omen that nationalised ScotRail is starting in such a secretive fashion.”

ScotRail said, “This information will be published in the coming weeks.”

The Daily Record approached the Scottish Government for comment.

Source: Daily Record

(Link and quotes via original reporting)