Independent Students Support Review Group Conference: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
FOI reference: FOI/18/00175
Date received: 22 January 2018
Date responded: 16 February 2018
Information requested
All correspondence, between the Cabinet Minister Shirley Anne Somerville or any Scottish Government officials, acting on her behalf and Jayne Anne Gadhia the Chairperson of the Independent Students Support Review Group from the date Ms Gadhia took up this role until the date of this request. To be clear, all correspondence including but not limited to but not exclusive of exchange of letters emails/minutes of meetings and ministerial briefs (official sensitive information can be redacted) including telephone calls & records, conference calls & records etc. In relation to the recent student review.
in electronic format a detailed itinerary of all meetings,
Response
1 Status 1.1 You are appointed to Chair the Review of Student Support. In these terms and conditions, except where stated, "you" and related expressions refer to the holder of that office.
2 Duties and Responsibilities 2.1 The main purpose of the Review is set out in the Scottish Government's 'Programme for Government' published on 6th September 2016:
http://www.gov.scot/About/Performance/programme-for-government - namely to assess the effectiveness of the current system of student support for all students engaged in further (FE) and higher education (HE) and make recommendations for beneficial change. The draft remit for the Review, approved by Ministers, is attached at
2.2 The role of the Chair is to provide active and effective leadership, direction, support and guidance to ensure that the Review delivers on this remit and within the required timescales.
2.3 Key requirements for the Chair include: Review and providing appropriate parameters for discussion; commissioning and publication of independent research; (the secretariat will be able to advise which meetings might lend themselves to participation in your capacity as Chair); outlining ways to reform student support to ensure the entire system is firmly focussed on meeting the needs of students in FE and HE, particularly the most vulnerable.
3 Accountability 3.1 You are appointed by, and are accountable with other members conducting the Review to Scottish Ministers for the actions and outputs.
4 Period of Appointment 4.1 This appointment will take effect from 25th October 2016 and will end on 31st August 2017 (unless terminated before that date or extended with your agreement).
5 Time Commitment 5.1 It is anticipated that Chairing the Review and performing the functions and responsibilities set out in condition 2 above will require a commitment of two to three (each of 7.5 hours) days a month.
6 Expenses 6.1 Expenses reasonably incurred in the exercise of your functions as Chair in relation to travel and subsistence away from home in order to attend meetings of the Review, stakeholder meetings (agreed with the Secretariat) and meetings with Scottish Government officials will be reimbursed upon evidence of expenditure.
6.2 Reimbursement will be at the Scottish Government's normal travel and subsistence rates. A copy of the current rates and conditions will be provided separately.
7 Liability 7.1 This appointment shall not be construed as in any way constituting a contract of service or for services between you and the Scottish Ministers or as between you and the Crown.
7.2 If legal proceedings are brought against you by a third party, the Scottish Ministers will meet any civil liability incurred in performing your functions, provided that you acted honestly and in good faith, and did not act recklessly or negligently.
8 Confidentiality 8.1 As Chair of the Review of Student Support – and after termination of that appointment (howsoever arriving) – you will owe a duty or confidentiality to the Scottish Ministers in relation to any information of a confidential nature to which you have access in the course of your appointment. The sensitive nature of the issues and documents with which you may be dealing makes it extremely important that such confidentiality is respected. You will be required to exercise care in the use of information which you acquire in the course of your duties and to protect from unauthorised disclosure any documents or other information provided to you in confidence.
9 Conflicts of Interest 9.1 You must declare any personal or business interest which may be perceived to influence your judgement in performing your functions. These interests should be included in a register of interests maintained by the Review Secretariat and you must ensure that your entries are kept up-to-date.
9.2 You will not participate in any activities which conflict with the interests of the Review and, in particular, you must not misuse your office, or any information acquired in the course of your office, to further your private interests or those of others.
10 Political Activity 10.1 You are expected not to occupy paid party political posts or hold particularly sensitive or high roles in a political party. Subject to the foregoing, you are free to engage in political activities provided that you are conscious of your general public responsibilities and exercise a proper discretion.
10.2 You are expected to inform the Scottish Ministers of any intention to accept a prominent position in any political party and to understand that your appointment may be terminated if the Scottish Ministers feel that the positions are incompatible.
I accept appointment to the office of Chair of the Review of Student Support on the terms set out above.
Signature: Date: Full name (in block capitals)
Reply Form – Telecommunications Services
Scottish Ministers – Telecommunications Services
Question Detail PQQ ITT
Q1 Suppliers who applied for inclusion on each framework/contract and were successful & not successful at the PQQ & ITT stages. Successful Suppliers Unsuccessful Suppliers Successful Suppliers Unsuccessful Suppliers
N/A N/A British Telecommunications plc
Daisy Communications Ltd Exchange Communications Ltd Gamma Telecom Ltd KCOM Group plc Telefonica O2 Ltd Virgin Media Business Vodafone Ltd Adept Telecom plc Capita IT Services Commsworld Ltd Digital Communication Systems Ltd Spectrum Telecom Ltd
Q1 Clarification note. The Invitation to Tender was conducted using the Open Procedure under the EU public procurement regulations. Accordingly, it was a single stage process with no PQQ stage.
Q2 Contract values of each framework/contract (& any sub lots), year to date It is a single Lot framework and the total spend to date is £7,607,726 ex VAT. This is broken down as follows:
FY 2014/15 - £ 234,366. This covers 3 quarters spend from July 2014 to March 2015. FY 2015/16 - £1,556,818. FY 2016/17 - £3,357,454. FY 2017/18 - £2,459,088. This covers 3 quarters spend from April 17 to Dec 17.
Q3 Start date & duration of framework The framework commenced on 27 June 2014 and is due to expire on 26 June 2018. The initial period was for 24 months with two 12 months extension options which have been taken up.
Q4 Is there an extension clause in the framework(s)/contract(s) and, if so, the duration of the extension? See above
Q5 Has a decision been made yet on whether the framework(s)/contract(s) are being either extended or renewed? No decision has been made. Scottish Procurement is currently considering options in relation to Telephony Services. A Prior Information Notice encouraging views/comments from suppliers was issued on 10 January 2018, link here.
Q6 Who is the senior officer (outside of procurement) responsible for this contract? The senior officer outside of procurement is Sarah Davidson, Director General, Organisational Development & Operations
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