The expenses regime at SQA verged on the criminal in my view. It was akin to the MPs scandal a decade ago
Ex-worker Managers at exam body exploit air miles and hotel points for personal use
Senior executives at Scotland’s crisis-hit school exams body routinely exploit business perks for personal use, whistleblowers have claimed.
Three former Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) employees have made serious allegations about the organisation’s “sickening expenses culture”.
One ex-staff member claimed that senior managers, including outgoing chief executive Janet Brown, use air miles and hotel points accrued while travelling around the world for personal gain.
Another said SQA managers would bitterly complain when hotel “loyalty points” weren’t awarded to them and are known among education chiefs from other countries as being on a “gravy train”.
All said they are prevented from speaking publicly because they have signed non-disclosure agreements with the exam body.
The so-called “gagging orders” were introduced by companies to prevent former employees leaking commercially sensitive details to rivals.
But politicians fear they are being used by companies to mask unsavoury working conditions.
One whistleblower told us how he travelled to Oman with the SQA in 2015 to work with its government on various education projects.
He said: “The expenses regime at the SQA verged on being criminal, in my opinion. It was akin to the MP expenses scandal a decade ago. It needs to be brought to the attention of the Scottish public.
“I’ve worked in education for many years – in Scotland, Ireland and internationally. This is the reason why I’m so appalled by this type of behaviour.
“It’s so removed from the original mission of the SQA – to support education and, particularly, learners in Scotland.
“The type of high living at taxpayers’ expense does nothing but bring the SQA into disrepute.”
The whistleblower worked as a senior consultant with the SQA as the Omani government overhauled its education structure.
But the work was hit by problems, including political in- f ighting between Omani government departments and its distrust of SQA executives.
Employees travel the world selling qualif ications and awards to foreign governments.
He added: “SQA management were known around the world. The business- class travel – in expensive airl ines, such as Qata r, EmEmirates and Etihad – has beebeen going on for a number of yyears, as has the use of luxuluxury hotels. “IIn many cases, a standard room in a top hotel is not enouenough – the rooms had to be executive or club-class levellevels. The cost of these roomrooms is significant. “ThThe question must be why norma l rooms a re not sufficientnt for SQSQA managers. The meals in these hotels are equally expensive. “Air miles is aanother issue. SQA bosses bbuildild up airi miles and are able to use these in personal travel. “The original flights are bought by the SQA but they get no benefit from the air mileage accrued on future business f lights. Obviously, with so much long-haul business class travel, the benefits build up quickly.”
He said that while consultants with the SQA stayed in a standard hotel, bosses stayed on the outskirts of Muscat in a top- of-the-range venue, which cost about three times as much. The bill was picked up by the taxpayer.
The man added: “To give one example, a number of people were in Muscat in Oman, working with a ministry in Oman.
“Most consultants stayed in and worked in a standard hotel called the Majan. But SQA management stayed at the Crowne Plaza Muscat, which was on the other side of the city.
“All the meetings were either held at the Majan or ministry of education, which was near the Majan. So you had
the ludicrous situation of SQA bosses travelling to a hotel from another hotel only to return at night in a taxi.
“The question must be, ‘ Why?’ The Majan was a good hotel.
“There were other hotels nearby too. But none were as good as the Crowne Plaza – considered one of the best in the whole country.
“There seems to be no justification for this, other than living a good life at the Scottish taxpayers’ expense.”
The SQA has refused to reveal what hotels it uses following requests by us over the last few months. In a series of refusals, they have said it could jeopardise the “security” of its staff.
But another consultant who worked in Oman said SQA bosses’ lavish choices of hotel was well known. He said: “My experience of SQA managers
was they spent longer in the air – travelling in first or business class – than on the ground. But when they did turn up, it was to stay at the flashiest hotel available.
“I remember them sending out a communication manager for a trip to Oman. It just felt like a jolly for him before he retired.
“There seemed to be no other reason for the trip. He certainly didn’t contribute to the work on the ground.”
Another SQA whistleblower, who worked at the education body’s HQs in Glasgow and Dalkeith, Midlothian, said outgoing chief Brown would stay at Hilton hotels and rack up loyalty points with the chain, which she then used in her personal life.
A spokesman for the SQA said it was reviewing the use of personal loyalty cards by SQA staff on international business.
He said: “SQA does not hold corporate loyalty cards for any airlines or hotel chains.
“We continually assess all internal policies and our travel and subsistence policies are under review.
“Specific guidance on the use of personal loyalty cards will be considered as part of this review.”
He added: “The hotel used by SQA staff (in Oman) was booked via a travel supplier as par t of the Scottish Government framework in line with policy.
“Contractors are paid a day rate and it is for them to make their own accommodation arrangements.”
Why are normal hotel rooms not OK for SQA bosses?