Question reference: S5W-20528
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 11 December 2018
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Current status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 21 December 2018
Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Health Improvement Scotland fee structure is reportedly more expensive in Scotland compared with inspecting authorities in other UK regions for the same level of regulation and inspection.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s policy is that the regulation of independent healthcare in Scotland should be entirely funded through the fees paid by those providers who are being regulated. The rate of the fees, which is based on a cost recovery basis, was subject to public consultation and the adopted fee rates were the preferred option of the majority of respondents from the 500 service providers contacted. The fees are calculated in relation to the type of work being carried out in the service.