Scottish Government

SCOTTISH COMMISSION FOR THE REGULATION OF CARE: PROPOSALS FOR MAXIMUM FEES 2004-05

This document is also available in pdf format (140k)

Dear Colleague

SCOTTISH COMMISSION FOR THE REGULATION OF CARE: PROPOSALS FOR MAXIMUM FEES 2004-05

2. I invite you to comment no later than 6 February on the enclosed consultation paper, which sets out Scottish Ministers' proposals for maximum fees to be applied to care providers by the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care (Care Commission) from 2004-05.
4. The Care Commission, set up by the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001, has been regulating care services previously regulated by local authorities and health boards since 1 April 2002. Maximum fees from that date were set by Scottish Ministers in the Regulation of Care (Fees)(Scotland) Order 2002 for the following:

• applications for initial registration or for cancellation of registration;
• annual continuation of registration;
• applications for variation or removal of a condition of registration;
• issue of a new certificate of registration.

1. The policy on registration fees was set in the Financial Memorandum attached to the Regulation of Care Bill when it was laid before the Scottish Parliament in December 2000. This has been followed in the intervening years and has meant 10% (or 10 per place) increases each year for those services regulated in some way prior to April 2002. In addition, fees for services new to regulation have been set from the start at a rate reflecting the full cost to the Care Commission of the regulatory process. The original policy of a Commission self-funded through fees still holds good. Ministers, however, in response to concerns expressed by service providers, propose that the move to full cost recovery for those services not at full cost recovery be staged over the next 3 years. This will give the Care Commission time to produce robust data on the regulatory activity levels required for different types of services and the associated costs.
3. The consultation paper sets out the maximum fees which, in terms of the Act, Scottish Ministers propose to prescribe for application by the Care Commission for all the services which the Care Commission will be regulating from 1 April 2004. The draft Fees Order is attached to the consultation paper as Appendix A. You should note that, in line with policy, fees for the services new to regulation (adoption services, fostering services and remaining offender accommodation services not previously regulated) have been set at full cost recovery.
5. I would value your views on the proposals contained in the paper, and your comments on the potential effect of the proposed fees on services, by 6 February 2004. Responses should be sent to Jane Martin, Care Standards and Sponsorship Branch, Scottish Executive Health Department, 2E(S), St Andrew's House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3BA, or emailed to standardsandsponsorship@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.

Yours sincerely

Linda Gregson

MRS LINDA GREGSON
Care Standards and Sponsorship Branch