The University of St. Andrews (Degrees in Medicine and Dentistry) Bill: CRWIA

Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment Stage 1

Screening - key questions

(Hyperlink will only work within SG)

1. Name the policy, and describe its overall aims.

The Bill makes a technical amendment to the Universities (Scotland) Act 1966 (“the 1966 Act”), by repealing paragraph 17 of schedule 6 (transfer of property, etc. to University of Dundee and other transitional provisions - abolition of qualifying examinations and degrees in medicine etc. in the University of St. Andrews). 

The 1966 Act currently prohibits the University of St. Andrews (“the University”) from awarding medical and dentistry degrees.  The policy objective of this Bill is to remove the prohibition as it is unfair, anti-competitive and serves no legitimate purpose in today’s context.  The impetus for removing the prohibition at this time is to enable the University to award, jointly with the University of Dundee, undergraduate Primary UK Medical Qualifications (PMQ) to Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM) MBChB students.  In removing the prohibition, the Bill also creates a fairer higher education sector and enables all of Scotland’s valued institutions to maximise the options and opportunities they offer to students in Scotland.  

The provisions of the Bill will impact on ScotGEM students and the Universities of St. Andrews and Dundee to the extent that will enable a PMQ degree to be awarded to ScotGEM students by both institutions rather than by the University of Dundee alone.  It is not considered that the provisions will directly impact on any other students.

Those Universities that currently offer degrees in medicine and dentistry, as well as all other higher education institutions in Scotland, will be impacted indirectly given that one of their potential competitors will no longer be subject to an additional caveat requiring legislative change should it be successful in any future competitive commissioning process for a new medical or dentistry degree provider.     

2.  What aspects of the policy/measure will affect children and young people up to the age of 18?

There are no aspects of this proposal that affect children and young people up to the age of 18.  Individuals affected by this Bill include only ScotGEM students, who are over the age of 18 years old as it is a graduate entry programme. 

3. What likely impact – direct or indirect – will the policy/measure have on children and young people?

There would be no impact of this proposal on children and young people because those affected (ScotGEM students) are not children or young people. 

4. Which groups of children and young people will be affected?

No groups of children and young people will be affected by the successful implementation of this proposal. 

5. Will this require a CRWIA?

A Child Rights and Wellbeing assessment is not required because the Bill does not affect children and young people under the age of 18 years. 

CRWIA Declaration

Tick relevant section, and complete the form.

CRWIA not required:

X

Authorisation:

Policy lead

Carmen Murray

Bill Team Leader

Date: 24 September 2020

Deputy Director or equivalent

Stephen Lea-Ross

Deputy Director of Health Workforce 

Date: 24 September 2020