Question reference: S5O-04235
- Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 27 February 2020
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Current status: Answered by David Stewart on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body on 5 March 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what steps it is taking to ensure that Parliament computers that are no longer suitable for corporate use are disposed of in a way that has a positive impact on wider society.
Answer
The Scottish Parliament Corporate Body currently utilises a contract which provides services for the secure removal of data, reuse, recycling and disposal of computers that are no longer suitable for corporate use.
The emphasis for this contract is re-use of equipment, which the contractor reported was 33% over a two-year period. Where equipment cannot be re-used or components and parts recovered, items are separated into base materials for recycling in the UK.
The company currently providing these services is a Supported Business which means that at least 30% of their workforce is employed from disabled and disadvantaged backgrounds. Last year this figure stood at 48% which positively impacted local society.