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Staff commute is classed as work Daily commuting treated as work
(about 4 hours later)
Civil servants whose jobs have been moved out of Edinburgh are being allowed to treat some of their journeys to the office as work.Civil servants whose jobs have been moved out of Edinburgh are being allowed to treat some of their journeys to the office as work.
Transport Scotland staff can count the phone calls, e-mails and paperwork they do while commuting by train to Glasgow as part of their day.Transport Scotland staff can count the phone calls, e-mails and paperwork they do while commuting by train to Glasgow as part of their day.
The organisation's bosses rejected claims that the move reduced the working day to as little as four hours.The organisation's bosses rejected claims that the move reduced the working day to as little as four hours.
The 150 staff of Transport Scotland relocated to Glasgow last year.The 150 staff of Transport Scotland relocated to Glasgow last year.
Transport Scotland was set up under new legislation last year to help deliver the executive's transport strategy.Transport Scotland was set up under new legislation last year to help deliver the executive's transport strategy.
The travel expenses will not be available to relocated staff indefinitely, and will be withdrawn after five years Scottish Executive spokeswomanThe travel expenses will not be available to relocated staff indefinitely, and will be withdrawn after five years Scottish Executive spokeswoman
Among its responsibilities are trunk roads, rail transport, and overall strategy.Among its responsibilities are trunk roads, rail transport, and overall strategy.
Of these, 57 were having their extra travel expenses paid for.Of these, 57 were having their extra travel expenses paid for.
She said: "It is not true that any of those relocated have had their working day reduced. A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said: "It is not true that any of those relocated have had their working day reduced.
"What we have in place is a policy that when members of staff who are coming from Edinburgh get on the train, they can start their working day - e-mails, making phone calls, catching up on paperwork. "What we have in place is a policy that when members of staff who are coming from Edinburgh get on the train, they can start their working day with e-mails, making phone calls and catching up on paperwork.
Economic benefitsEconomic benefits
"It is extremely possible to do that, and this is monitored by their line managers to ensure they are working.""It is extremely possible to do that, and this is monitored by their line managers to ensure they are working."
A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said decisions on relocation were only taken after careful economic analysis, and considering long term social and economic benefits.A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said decisions on relocation were only taken after careful economic analysis, and considering long term social and economic benefits.
One in five of the relocated staff are said to be receiving travel expenses.
She said: "We need to make sure we have the right people in the right place, using the skills of staff in the right way to ensure efficient and effective government.She said: "We need to make sure we have the right people in the right place, using the skills of staff in the right way to ensure efficient and effective government.
"The travel expenses will not be available to relocated staff indefinitely, and will be withdrawn after five years.""The travel expenses will not be available to relocated staff indefinitely, and will be withdrawn after five years."