Chamber and committees

Support for procurement of telecare services is currently provided by Scotland Excel, who manage the Telecare and Telehealth Technologies Procurement Framework (see http://www.scotland-excel.org.uk/contract.aspx?contract=0614). This is used by all 32 local authorities and a number of Health boards and housing associations to purchase the majority of their telecare equipment. The framework runs until December 2016, and mainly consists of analogue devices. Discussions are underway with Scotland Excel on the scope of the framework post-2016, and a decision will be made in October 2016.

Whilst the Scottish Government has no direct authority around local procurement procedures, officials will continue to work with organisations providing advice and guidance where applicable around future provision of telecare services.

Ofcom are fully aware and accept that the analogue infrastructure is not sustainable and cannot be supported long term. However, in ongoing discussions with Ofcom, it has been confirmed that there is currently no timetable in place for the replacement programme to commence. The accepted view is that once the replacement programme does commence, it will take between five and ten years to complete across the UK.

The reports mentioned in the answer to question S5W-01189 on 29 July 2016 contain this advice. The Scottish Government is acutely aware that continuity of services is paramount to the estimated 160,000 people who rely on a telecare service.

Following discussion with the Swedish Government and Swedish providers, where this shift has already commenced, we are aware that a small number of existing analogue devices do not function correctly on a digital network. Individual services would therefore need to test each legacy device to ensure its safety. Part of the trial site developments going forward will involve such testing as required to ensure that continuity of service provision is maintained throughout any transition that needs to take place.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The decision on what individual devices and systems to procure is entirely a matter for individual authorities and commissioners. There is nothing to suggest that existing analogue devices are insufficient, as they work well across the existing analogue telephony network. It is only once the move to a digital telephony infrastructure commences that there may be a potential conflict between analogue devices and a digital network.

In exploring what is involved in the shift from analogue to digital systems, the Scottish Government, via the Scottish Centre for Telehealth & Telecare, commissioned a feasibility study. The first part of this audited the current digital status of telecare solutions in Scotland and examined the potential benefits that a move to digital telecare may deliver. This was published in October 2015 and can be accessed at http://sctt.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/NHS24D3V3_0-Final-Report-Updated-12th-Oct-2015.pdf.

This report confirmed that no Scottish telecare solution currently meets the definition of ‘end-to-end’ digital telecare. There are examples of deployments based on digital technology, for example geofencing and video camera use, but these are limited in scale and number and tend to be deployed as standalone solutions, separate to the main telecare systems. The report also set out a number of benefits of moving to digital systems.

An implementation guide on the move to digital systems is due to be published late July 2016. This sets out the technical requirements and options. The next stage will be developing a number of test sites to explore the service possibilities. The Scottish Government is working on this with COSLA, the Improvement Service, the Scottish Centre for Telehealth & Telecare and the Digital Health & Care Institute.

As mentioned in the answer provided to question S5W-01187 on 29 July 2016, discussions are ongoing with Scotland Excel. A working group has been established and will continue to review the ongoing procurement policies in light of recent changes in procurement legislation.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The Scottish Government has worked closely with Scottish Natural Heritage to prepare the state aid submission. No detailed discussions have taken place with farmers and crofters on Islay, though they are aware of the process that is taking place. While the submission seeks approval to roll forward the existing scheme, which we don’t anticipate needing to change, potentially the European Commission could seek amendments to the scheme. As the focus of recent activity has been to finalise the background materials and prepare the state aid application, no discussions have taken place with the European Commission at this stage.

The preparation of an application for new state aid cover for the goose scheme on Islay and elsewhere is well advanced. We expect to enter into informal discussions with the European Commission in the coming months, ahead of a formal submission for state aid approval.

The Scottish Government will ensure that commencement dates for the relevant sections of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 allow the Scottish Land Commission and Tenant Farming Commissioner to be operational from 1 April 2017. This includes all the powers relating to the inquiry function of the Tenant Farming Commissioner (in Part 2, sections 29-35 of the Act). A Commencement Order for Part 2 will be laid shortly after recess.

The programme guidance and qualifying criteria for applications to secure funding as part of the European Social Fund Operational Programme 2014 to 2020 does not propose to exclude SCQF level 5 and 6 courses. Each application for funding will be carefully assessed to ensure that the skills that are proposed to be delivered align with the objectives of the programme and adequately tackle skills shortages and key sector needs in each region of Scotland.

It is the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and Skills Development Scotland (SDS) to submit applications for access to European funding as part of the Developing Scotland’s Workforce Strategic Intervention. SFC and SDS must ensure that their applications align with the thematic objectives and priorities of the European Social Fund Operational Programme 2014 to 2020 and adequately tackle skills shortages and key sector needs in each region of Scotland. The Scottish Government can confirm the continuation of SCQF level 5 and 6 courses as part of the Developing Scotland’s Workforce Strategic Intervention.