Almost 1.4 million meals were claimed throughout August in Edinburgh, at an average of £6.90 a meal, under the Eat Out to Help Out UK government scheme to get people back to restaurants.
The scheme gave 50% off meals, up to £10 per person through August on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
A total of £9,630,000 was claimed for across 465 registered restaurants in the capital.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, has hailed the success of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme getting customers back into restuarants.
The figures also don’t yet highlight the figures from the last day of the scheme on Monday 31 August, meaning the final total will be higher.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said:“I am delighted that the Eat Out to Help Out scheme has been such a huge success in Edinburgh and that it has given restaurants a much needed boost after lockdown.
“The restaurant and hospitality sector is central to Edinburgh’s economy and the scheme will have helped many restaurants survive, as well as saving jobs.
“Almost £10 million in claimed discounts show just how big a success this scheme has been.”
The UK Government is investing £7.2 million in twenty research projects across the UK, including the universities of Edinburgh and Strathclyde, to help provide developing countries with sustainable solutions to respond to Covid-19 and future pandemics.
One of these projects, led by the University of Edinburgh’s Dr Thomas Molony, will receive £367,000 to investigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on elections in Africa.
Working in partnership with colleagues in the Central African Republic, Ghana and Tanzania, the study will find ways to protect the electorate from Covid-19 transmission.
The project team – comprising of country specialists, leading public health researchers, and election experts – plan to investigate multiple stages of each election, tracking patterns of turnout and using surveys (with gender-balanced samples) to investigate attitudes towards voting so that any emergent gender inequality is highlighted.
The University of Strathclyde project, led by Dr Pratima Sambajee, will receive £199,579 in funding to look at how Covid-19 has impacted workers’ rights in Mauritius and how improvements can be made.
The hardest hit are workers in tourism and hospitality, textile factories and the informal economy. Examples include reduced compensation, withholding of workers’ annual leave and exemption from negotiations with workers’ organisations (unions) by employers prior to reduction of the workforce.
UK Government Minster for Scotland, Iain Stewart said: “These remarkable projects will play a critical role in helping to address the issue of Covid-19 transmission at elections in the developing world and help ensure workers’ rights are protected.
“Adapting to the risks of Covid-19 has been especially hard for the world’s most vulnerable communities.
“It’s great news that Scottish researchers are helping the international community respond to the pandemic and making an impact tackling Covid-19 globally.”
UK Business Secretary Alok Sharma said: “Defeating coronavirus is a truly global endeavour, which is why we’re backing Britain’s scientists and researchers to work with their international counterparts to find tech solutions to treat and combat this virus around the world.
“By backing these pioneering research projects in Scotland, we are equipping some of the most vulnerable communities with the resources they need to tackle pandemics now and in the future.”
Dr Thomas Molony, Director, Centre of African Studies at Edinburgh University said: Elections give people the opportunity to shape the future of their societies. Such decisions are crucial in the context of Covid-19, which has drastically affected lives around the globe.
“A number of elections are still due to take place this year in Africa, and there are a further 18 elections are scheduled for 2021.
“By working to reduce the risks of Covid-19 transmission during elections, we’re contributing towards one of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): to ensure healthy lives and promote the wellbeing for all at all ages.
“We are also interested in democracy. The Covid-19 pandemic has the potential for democratic back-sliding, where the quality and legitimacy of elections are undermined – either unintentionally because of safety measures, or intentionally where incumbents seek to instrumentalise the virus through authoritarian measures designed to benefit themselves.”
Other projects receiving UK Government funding include delivering mass vaccination capacity in Bangladesh, protective equipment for refugees in Jordan and remote healthcare access for patients in Nigeria.
The £7.2 million UK government funding will be managed by UK aid programmes, the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) and the Newton Fund.
The funding follows the launch of the government’s ambitious R&D Roadmap in July, which committed to boosting international collaboration in research and development and establishing global scientific partnerships that will create health, social and economic benefits across the world.
Armchair travellers can enjoy a new film that tells the story of a global rarity – an ecosystem in recovery
The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) is excited to announce the launch of its new film ‘South Georgia – A Visitor’s Guide’, narrated by Sir David Attenborough.
The film has two key messages; firstly, it encourages visitors to respect and protect the island so their visit can be truly sustainable, but there is another message which is relevant to us all; proof that nature can recover, if we give it the chance.
The film tells the story of how with careful management, ambitious habitat restoration projects, dedication and the passing of time, an ecosystem was saved from disaster. Past human activities on South Georgia harmed the environment through sealing, industrial whaling and unregulated fishing.
The introduction of rats, reindeers and invasive plants upset the delicate ecological balance on land, pushing some species to the brink of extinction. Today, through hard work and commitment, South Georgia is a global rarity; an ecosystem in recovery.
Fur seals now number around 5 million, that’s 95% of the global population. 400,000 nesting pairs of king penguins and their chicks jostle for space with nearly half a million southern elephant seals; South Georgia is home to the greatest concentration of seabirds and marine mammals on the planet.
Professor Dame Jane Francis DCMG, Director of the British Antarctic Survey said: “South Georgia is a real gem in the Southern Ocean. The breath-taking scenery and stunning wildlife will fill you with awe and make you wonder at the incredible beauty of the island in its natural state. South Georgia shows us how much better our planet can be if we learn to live in balance with nature.”
Sir David Attenborough introduced the world to this remarkable place almost thirty years ago in the ground-breaking BBC series Life in the Freezer. His association with the island has continued over the years with subsequent wildlife documentaries including Blue Planetand Frozen Planet.
Passionate about the ongoing need to protect the ecology of South Georgia, Sir David has generously lent his voice and provided the narration for this new visitor film, in which he says “I’d like to invite you to… share the wonderful story of how an ecosystem can be saved from disaster. Let [South Georgia] it be your inspiration to seek out nature, and play your part in protecting and restoring our planet, whenever and however you can.”
Threats to South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands remain, but they are largely global environmental issues which need to be addressed on a global scale.
Climate change is a shocking reality in South Georgia with glaciers retreating rapidly, whilst albatross numbers are declining as they remain vulnerable to unregulated fishing activities when foraging on the high seas far from our protected waters. Sadly, marine plastics are now reaching even the most remote places on earth.
His Excellency Nigel Phillips CBE, Commissioner for South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands, said: “It is a privilege to be Commissioner and custodian of one of the most remarkable places on earth.
“This film beautifully encompasses the outcomes of tireless work of many people over the decades that Sir David Attenborough has been visiting. It is only as a result of their endeavours that this film can tell such a moving story of an ecosystem in recovery. It will inspire, it may even take your breath away.
“With an understanding of how small actions can have big repercussion, we aim to inspire visitors to live in a more environmentally sensitive way, that sustains our planet, and does not destroy it.
“I extend my thanks to all those who have worked on this project, not least Sir David Attenborough, and the UK government for their funding support.”
Prior to landing on South Georgia, visitors will watch the film to better understand why it is important to follow the environmental protection guidelines set out by the GSGSSI.
Gina Greer, Executive Director of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) said: “As a non-profit association dedicated to advocating safe and environmentally responsible travel to Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands, IAATO is thrilled by the release of ‘South Georgia – A Visitor’s Guide.
“This beautifully shot short film perfectly encapsulates the years of partnership working between GSGSSI and IAATO Members to facilitate responsible travel, create ambassadors for this unique region and encourage environmentally sensitive behaviour by all those fortunate enough to visit the island.
“IAATO is proud to have played a part in bringing ‘South Georgia – A Visitor’s Guide’ to fruition and we look forward to sharing it with future visitors.”
‘South Georgia – a Visitor’s Guide’ was produced by Silverback Films Ltd, using specially shot new footage, as well as footage donated by the BBC Archive and private individuals, Danny Georgeson, Ramon Benedet & David Sugden.
GSGSSI wishes to thank all who volunteered their passion, commitment and love of South Georgia to make the film possible, with special thanks to the crew and passengers of Hanseatic Nature, Bremen and Pharos SG.
A new development programme will aim to remove barriers that can be faced by minority ethnic people moving into leadership positions in society.
Up to 50 people will benefit from a nine-month professional and personal development programme backed by mentoring, and living wage placements across the public, third and private sectors.
The programme will focus on young people, and will be delivered by the John Smith Centre, backed up by £470,000 of Scottish Government funding. The programme will focus on developing the professional and personal skills of participants, including negotiating and communication.
Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The Scottish Government is committed to achieving equality for all minority ethnic people and part of that means taking tangible steps to remove barriers and improve opportunities across society.
“Improving representation across all walks of life is key to achieving this aim and I am pleased that the John Smith Centre will deliver this important programme. The programme will provide up to 50 people with a fantastic opportunity to develop the skills they need to succeed.
“The programme will be developed and delivered in consultation with relevant organisations and people to ensure that we are learning from lived experience.
“I want to see talented participants from all walks of life taking part, including those who haven’t taken traditional academic routes to success. I hope the result will be an increase in numbers of minority ethnic people in leadership roles that reflect the society we live in.”
Director of the John Smith Centre Kezia Dugdale said: “The John Smith Centre exists to break down the barriers disadvantaged groups face accessing public life. We listened carefully to the call for action emanating from the Black Lives Matter movement and reflected hard on what we could do that would make a meaningful difference.
“We have a strong track record in supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds develop the confidence, the networks and the experience they need to break through the challenges they face. We are therefore extremely proud to now be collaborating with the Scottish Government to increase the scale of this work with a particular focus on minority ethnic young people.
“At every stage of this programme we’ll listen to, learn from and involve people with lived experience of the barriers that minority ethnic communities face, and combine it with our experience of what makes a real difference and delivers long term change.”
Features of the Minority Ethnic Emerging Leaders Academy are expected to include:
A residential development weekend focused on developing employability skills such presentation, negotiating and communication skills and networking/social events to build early cohesion in the group in order to establish a peer support network.
Internship with an MSP or Non-Government Organisation over the course of the nine month placement.
Employability events at the University of Glasgow with high level politicians and public service practitioners.
Programme management by experienced providers of high-quality development opportunities. Developed by the John Smith Centre with extensive involvement of the minority ethnic community in all aspects of the programme.
The First Minister has said at her daily press briefings and in the Chamber that any life lost to Covid-19 is the loss of someone’s loved one and should rightfully be recognised as such.
Protecting public health has rightfully been the focus of the government’s strategy and we have always been clear that we understand the need to do that and have supported that work which is absolutely paramount at any time, not just during a pandemic. Airports and their process have safety at their core.
However, absolutely paramount at any time is also a strong economy, one that allows government to protect livelihoods, improve the lives of people and further Scotland’s ambitions and credentials at home and abroad.
Last night (02/09/20) I listened to your comments on STV and was dismayed to hear you say that although you were concerned about the impact of Covid-19 and quarantine on the aviation industry, “We can bring the economy back to life, we just can’t bring people back to life.”
Cabinet Secretary, I am sorry that you felt that such a comparison was appropriate. No-one in aviation has advocated trading lives for the economy, and it is unhelpful to be using anyone’s loss to make a political point that side-steps or ignores our open request for engagement in seeking better policies.
In all our engagement with your Government, we have agreed that health measures must be what we build policy around. It has never been in question because business aside, we are human beings first and foremost and we know the true cost of Covid-19.
But this isn’t a binary choice as you have seemed to suggest. It is not a choice between public health or the economy. It is not a choice because we need to do both if Scotland is to rebound and recover.
The First Minister’s Programme for Government this week made promises on jobs, especially the jobs guarantee for young people. That is an ambitious policy planning for Scotland’s future and that is to be commended but, and I’m sorry to be so blunt, you can’t guarantee anyone access to jobs that don’t exist. A strong economy will be key to this and is exactly why the Scottish Government needs to support businesses in sustaining and creating jobs if such promises are to come to fruition.
As an airport, we are a facilitator of many things, from business and tourism to education, research and culture, and all these things are drivers of economic activity. But we’re also one business in Scotland’s economy and there are many more who want to help and who want support from the government to get the recovery started.
Yes, rates relief your Government has put in place has of course been welcome, something we have said in public and in private. And yes, we know that it isn’t available in England or Wales. But what is and isn’t available in other parts of the UK is not our concern – saving Scotland’s aviation and travel industry and rebuilding our economy is.
A quarantine policy that is a travel ban in all but name makes this incredibly difficult, if not impossible. It is ineffective and unworkable as your own figures show and it is having a damning impact on a range of industries. If this is the path the Scottish Government is to continue down then there are some incredibly dark days ahead. I only have to look at my own business to see the real impact it is having. Saying goodbye to 250 colleagues through no fault of their own was one of the toughest experiences in my career. I don’t want others to have to do the same.
If we are to live with Covid-19 for months and years to come then this is simply not a sustainable approach. We need a robust testing regime that protects public health and provides confidence and reassurance to those who need and wish to travel.
We have to manage and mitigate the risk in the best way possible, and that simply has to be a dual approach with balanced attention given to health and prosperity.
Decisions taken now will have an enduring impact on the many quality jobs our industry supports up and down the country, and – if those are too cautious and short-sighted decisions, will significantly undermine the county’s future connectivity and competitiveness.
We are ready, willing and able to help design better systems and processes to protect the health of passengers and staff. We and our colleagues at AGS have spoken with the National Clinical Director, Jason Leitch to explore how best to partner with the Scottish Government on testing. We’re hopeful that our ideas are being listened to and we have a tentative path forward.
We have great respect for the First Minister’s leadership through this health crisis. However, we urge you to make good her words in recognising that the economic emergency is of equal importance to the health crisis.
The aviation and travel industries are not too big to fail. If the Scottish Government position remains as it stands, you are putting tens of thousands of jobs at risk in aviation the next few months alone. The knock-on risks to our tourism sector are even more profound and we would hope you might reflect carefully on our concerns and respond accordingly.
We urge you to reconsider your approach and work with us to find a way to protect public health and rebuild our economy. It is in Scotland’s best interest to do both.
Car hire insurance sold by rental companies can be up to 14 times more expensive and provides worse cover than policies bought online, according to new research from Which?.
The consumer champion compared the cost of car hire insurance policies from major car rental companies with top-rated independent insurance policies that can be bought online, for a week’s hire in Malaga, Spain.
The most expensive policy was from Europcar, costing £203 a week. By comparison, the cheapest top-rated policy from a major online provider was from Chew Insurance, and cost just £14 a week – a saving of £189.
The research found that, on average, the six biggest car hire firms charge £147 for a week’s insurance, while the six top-rated independent insurance policies sold online cost just £23 on average.
The lowest price from a car hire company that Which? found, for a week’s insurance in Spain, was from Enterprise at £115. Avis, Alamo, Europcar, Goldcar and Hertz’s policies were all more expensive.
Additionally, all of the more expensive policies offered by the car hire insurance firms provide inferior cover to the top-rated independent insurance policies. Which? insurance experts gave the top six independent providers a policy score ranging from 75 per cent to 82 per cent. When car rental firms’ policies were rated, the highest scoring policies received a mediocre 61 per cent.
The best car hire insurance included cover for damage to a car’s tyres, windscreen and underbody, flat battery cover, admin charges, car-jacking, towing cover, personal accident cover, among other features.
Questor Insurance, which received the top policy score of 82 per cent, charged just £24 for a week’s insurance in Spain. Questor offered cover for misfuelling, getting locked out, and lost or damaged keys. Despite costing £179 more, Europcar didn’t offer any of this cover as part of its policy.
The policies sold by major car hire companies contained a significant number of exclusions. Examples of incidences where a driver wouldn’t be covered include if an Avis customer had a stone chip their windscreen, if an Alamo customer got a flat tyre, or if a Hertz customer got locked out of their rental.
As well as offering cover for these accidents, the top-rated independent policies also offer cover for drivers who get locked out of the car, if they accidentally put the wrong type of fuel in the car, or are forced to cut short their hire. They also offer cover (usually up to £300) for any personal items that are stolen from the car. None of the more expensive policies from the car rental firms cover all of these incidents.
The only disadvantage of taking out an independent policy is that customers would still have any charges deducted from their credit card by the hire company, having to claim them back from their insurance afterwards.
As car hire has become an increasingly competitive market, the price of rental has dropped as low as £1 per day in some cases, meaning car hire companies often make their money from the sale of extras.
Which? has previously exposed car hire companies using pressure selling tactics to persuade customers to pay for these extras. Last year, Which? caught Europcar’s budget arm, Goldcar, on camera lying to and bullying customers into buying expensive cover.
Additionally, one in four (26%) Which? readers in the consumer champion’s most recent car hire survey said they were stung with unexpected charges, and a quarter of those who paid extra, ended up forking out an additional £200 or more.
While cover bought online can be significantly cheaper than policies bought from a car rental firm, Which? is also reminding holidaymakers looking for car hire insurance not to be swayed by the lowest price available online. Not all policies available online from independent providers are worth it, so always check the terms of the policy and the cover on offer before buying.
Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said:“Car hire is an industry plagued with unscrupulous practices, with wildly excessive charges for sub-standard insurance policies just one of the pitfalls customers should be wary of when choosing a rental company.
“The good news is that, no matter how a car hire salesperson may try and persuade you at the desk, you don’t have to fork out for one of these eye-wateringly expensive policies. Much more thorough cover is available online for a fraction of the cost, meaning you can enjoy your holiday with peace of mind that you’ll be covered if something goes wrong with your rental.”
The founders of People’s Energy, a community interest energy company set up with the aim of eradicating fuel poverty, have expressed their sadness at the decision of Nottingham City Council to sell Robin Hood Energy to British Gas.
The news comes following a strategic review of the council owned energy firm, which was originally launched as a competitor to the Big Six. With similar aims to People’s Energy, Robin Hood was the first not-for-profit energy company in the UK, however it has been blighted by financial problems and a critical report from external auditors Grant Thornton showed it put tens of millions of taxpayer funds at risk.
The Robin Hood Energy website says it was set up ‘to help give people a cheaper, more helpful alternative to the Big Six’. The failed firm has now been sold to the highest bidder, meaning that well-meaning households who had chosen Robin Hood Energy for its doing-good mission, will now be automatically switched to British Gas, which despite many years of huge profits to shareholders, last year made a £1.1 billion loss.
The team behind People’s Energy believe it would be much better for the people of Nottingham, and other customers across the country, to have been transferred to an ethical energy company more in line with the initial vision for Robin Hood Energy.
People’s Energy was set up to provide an alternative to the Big Six and has pledged to return 75% of its profits to its customers in the coming years.
Launched in 2017 following a successful crowdfunding campaign, People’s Energy is growing fast, with 180,000 customers in just three years. The organisation’s mission is to eradicate fuel poverty, which it aims to do through charitable projects and partnerships with local authorities, amongst other activities. People’s Energy has no external shareholders to report to and has customer and staff representation on its advisory board.
People’s Energy has now set up a free helpline for any Robin Hood Energy customers who would like to discuss their options for switching. Concerned customers can call 0131 3701819 free of charge over the next ten days.
Karin Sode, co-founder of People’s Energy said: “We were saddened to hear that Robin Hood Energy has been sold to one of the very companies it was set up to disrupt and our thoughts are with the 250 Robin Hood employees who have been made redundant during this process.
“As this, and other failed not-for-profit energy companies, has shown, running energy companies should be left to the experts and we believe a better model is for councils to work with strategic partners to offer lower cost energy to their residents. Partnering with an existing energy firm and negotiating a competitive rate is win-win for everyone and avoids councils being burdened with huge financial risk when things go wrong.
“A great example of this is the new tariff we’ve just introduced with East Lothian Council. We are offering all East Lothian residents a deal significantly below our already competitive rates and would like to do more of this across the country.
“Our aim, as the UK’s first community interest energy company, is putting people before profits and right now we feel compelled to help the hundreds of thousands of Robin Hood Energy customers faced with a transfer to an energy company they don’t want.
“We welcome any former Robin Hood Energy customers who would like to be supplied by an ethical, customer-owned company that doesn’t report to external shareholders. We’d love to hear from anyone interested via our dedicated helpline.”
People’s Energy has a specialist team set up to support Local Authorities and housing associations across the UK who are interested in a very low risk alternative to offering residents competitive energy pricing.
Edinburgh’s vision to become one of the world’s smartest capital cities has received a major boost thanks to an agreement between the City of Edinburgh Council and CGI.
Building on the five-year relationship the Council has established with the global ICT services provider, Councillors have agreed that the contract with CGI is to be extended until 2029 (running from 2023).
Providing stability for the Council’s ICT services, the extension will save a further £12m and help the Council look further ahead to the future. It will see CGI working with the Council on further digital transformation of services and continuing to be the Council’s primary ICT provider for the next nine years.
It also comes as Edinburgh is listed as Smart City of Year in the Digital 100 shortlist following recent work by the Council, CGI and other providers to enhance connectivity and embrace new technologies.
Depute Council Leader Cammy Day is the City of Edinburgh Council’s Smart Cities lead. He said: “Becoming a smart city will make Edinburgh a more sustainable and fair city so I’m pleased we’ve secured CGI’s long-term support to help us with our vision.
“We’re already well on our way to transforming the way we deliver many Council services, making them much more efficient and easy to use for residents. We want to develop this further and under the contract we’re looking at making digital learning services a lot more accessible and inclusive for all our pupils and residents.
“The work we’ll do with CGI will also support our plans for lowering carbon emissions and lowering costs by using smart technology. We realised savings of £45m when our partnership began in 2015, with an additional £11m in 2018 and this extension will save the Council a further £12m at a time when our finances are under pressure.”
Adam McVey, Council Leader, added: “Thanks to the work we’ve already achieved with CGI to use technology in much smarter ways, we’ve been able to respond quickly to the challenges of the pandemic and remote working, making sure our services can still be accessed by residents.
“Building on this will be crucial as we adapt to life beyond Covid and we want to create the most connected, efficient and sustainable Capital we can. The contract extension will allow us to make substantial savings without compromising on our ambitious goals for the City or on the progress we’re making improving core and lifeline services for our residents. I’m looking forward to seeing Edinburgh evolve into a genuinely Smart City and our partnership with CGI will sit at the heart of that work.”
The ambitious plans which the contract extension will help push forward will include:
Responding to the needs of a post-Covid Capital city by driving forward digital transformation
Bridging the digital divide between Edinburgh’s most and least affluent areas, providing schools with the most advanced networks and kit
A smart city operations centre to deliver transformative digital services using the likes of AI, the ‘Internet of Things’ and Advanced Analytics
‘Smart city’ systems such as intelligent traffic signals, smart streetlights that can control their own luminosity, street bins that can signal when they’re full and smart sensors in Council homes to predict, manage and prevent damage to properties such as damp
Increasing digital security to protect the Council’s network and data
Reducing the Council’s carbon footprint by reducing paper and print, reducing waste, and reusing or recycling equipment
Enhancing options for remote working for Council employees
Taking advantage of global trends such as moving to cloud-based services to reduce costs.
Tara McGeehan, CGI President for the UK and Australia, said: “This extension of our strategic partnership is excellent news. Edinburgh is a vibrant and diverse Capital city that is home to more than 518,000 citizens and is growing at twice the national Scottish average.
“This volume of people brings huge challenges, but also huge opportunities – especially when it comes to developing a modern, digital infrastructure that meets the demands of 21st century living.
“CGI, as the primary provider of transformational ICT services to the City of Edinburgh Council, has already helped modernise end-to-end digital services for both citizens and Council employees. Our hard work together has helped make the process of living and working in Edinburgh more transparent, more collaborative and more dynamic, delivering significant benefits to the city.
“This contract extension will now help us work with the Council so it can become one of the world’s ‘smartest’ capital cities. By using the latest digital technology, we aim to grow our relationship with the Council, and in turn help the Council grow its relationship with its citizens so they live and work in a dynamic, digitally-advanced Smart City.”
An independent review is to consider the idea of a national care service.
The review, a Programme for Government commitment, will aim to ensure Scotland provides consistently excellent support for people who use these services, as well as their carers and their families.
It will be chaired by Derek Feeley, former director general of Health and Social Care in the Scottish Government, and will report by January 2021.
Adult social care comprises a wide array of services and non-clinical support in a range of settings, involving care homes, care at home, day services, and community support for people with a range of needs.
Social care supports more than 200,000 people across Scotland – those with disabilities, older people, people with mental health problems and those with drug and alcohol problems.
The review will take into account the experiences of those supported by, and who work, in social care, as well as looking at funding, governance, administration and delivery.
The review will consider the needs, rights and preferences of people who use services, their families, and their carers.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “This will be a wide ranging review of all aspects of a service which supports and involves so many people across Scotland. I am looking forward to recommendations that help ensure high standards of service and support into the future.
“This independent review will examine how adult social care can be most effectively reformed to deliver a national approach to care and support services – and this will include consideration of a national care service.
“It will also build upon our existing commitments to improving provision – long standing issues in adult social care have been thrown into sharp relief during the pandemic, and they demand our attention.
“We owe it to those who use and work in adult social care services to acknowledge these challenges, to learn from them, and to consider carefully how we can most effective plan for the future.”
The chair of the review Derek Feeley, a former director general of Health and Social Care in the Scottish Government, is also a former Chief Executive of NHS Scotland and former Chief Executive and President of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
Derek Feeley said: “I am grateful to the Health Secretary for the invitation to chair this independent review and to the advisory panel for agreeing to bring their considerable expertise to our work to recommend improvements to adult social care in Scotland.
“I look forward to views of everyone involved in our social care system and, in particular, to hearing from service users about what it will take for us to better meet their needs, rights and preferences.
“We have a broad remit that touches on every part of the social care landscape; from the experience of those using and working in the system to how it should be funded and regulated. We will look at every option and opportunity to bring about the improvements that I know everyone working in the system aspires to achieve.”
The panel of experts for the review includes: Malcolm Chisholm, former Scottish Minister for Health and Community Care, Anna Dixon, chief executive of the Centre for Better Ageing, Caroline Gardner, Auditor General 2012-2020, Councillor Stuart Currie, Ian Welsh, chief executive of the Health and Social Care Alliance and Göran Henriks, Chief Executive of Learning and Innovation in Jönköping, Sweden.
The possible remit and structure of a potential national care service has not yet been set out. It could cover a range of organisational, funding and delivery options, which will be for the independent review to consider.
The review will also consider previous and ongoing work, including:
the programme for social care reform currently being taken forward by the Scottish Government and COSLA
progress with integration of health and social care in Scotland, including the outcomes of the recent review undertaken by the Scottish Government and COSLA
work undertaken by the Care Inspectorate to consider opportunities for improving adult social care provision
work undertaken by wider partners including the third sector to understand people’s experience of care and support improvement
scrutiny by Audit Scotland of social care and progress with integrating health and social care
scrutiny by the Health and Sport Committee of the Scottish Parliament of reform of social care to date and progress with integrating health and social care
