The Bill as introduced will let the University of St Andrews (jointly with the University of Dundee) award undergraduate Primary UK Medical Qualifications to Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM) students.
This is a Government bill
The Bill became an Act on 23 April 2021
This Bill was passed and is now an Act of the Scottish Parliament.
The University of St Andrews cannot currently hold exams and award degrees in medicine and dentistry. This is in paragraph 17, schedule 6 of the Universities (Scotland) Act 1966.
The Bill as introduced will let the University of St Andrews (jointly with the University of Dundee) award undergraduate Primary UK Medical Qualifications to Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM) students. ScotGEM is Scotland’s first graduate-entry programme for medicine. It is jointly delivered by the universities of Dundee and St Andrews.
The 1966 Act reconstituted Scotland’s "ancient universities" (Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews). It also created the University of Dundee. The University of Dundee took over the clinical part of the medical degree that the University of St Andrews had previously delivered.
The Bill was created to remove part of the 1966 Act so the University of St Andrews can hold exams and award degrees in medicine and dentistry.
University of St. Andrews (Degrees in Medicine and Dentistry) Bill as introduced (168KB, pdf) posted 29 September 2020
Explanatory Notes (230KB, pdf) posted 29 September 2020
Policy Memorandum (191KB, pdf) posted 29 September 2020
Financial Memorandum (111KB, pdf) posted 29 September 2020
Statements on legislative competence (90KB, pdf) posted 29 September 2020
All Bills introduced in the Parliament must be accompanied by specific documents. For most Bills, this includes:
Explanatory Notes: this document provides an overview of what the Bill does, plus a more detailed explanation of individual provisions.
Policy Memorandum: this sets out the objectives of the Bill. It also lists any alternatives considered, details of consultations, and an assessment of the effects of the Bill on a range of areas.
Financial Memorandum: this sets out estimates of costs, savings, and any changes to revenues expected to result from the Bill.
Delegated Powers Memorandum: this is needed if a Bill gives powers to make subordinate legislation or allows Scottish Ministers to issue directions, guidance or codes of practice.
Statements on legislative competence: two short statements, one by the Presiding Officer and one by the Member introducing the Bill. “Legislative competence” means the powers the Parliament has to make law.
The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is not required for this Bill.
For each Bill, the Presiding Officer must decide if a 'Financial Resolution' is required. The main reasons a Bill would need a Financial Resolution are that:
If a Bill requires a Financial Resolution:
The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.
Research briefing on the University of St Andrews (Degrees in Medicine and Dentistry) Bill
The Bill was introduced on 29 September 2020
At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.
The lead committee for this Bill is the Health and Sport Committee.
The lead committee will usually examine the Bill through evidence sessions. This will involve contributions from individuals and organisations, known as 'witnesses', with knowledge of the subject matter. The committee might also discuss the Bill in private sessions.
The consultation closed on 18 November 2020.
A Stage 1 debate took place on 26 January 2021 to consider and decide on the general principles of the Bill.
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 1 on 26 January 2021
At Stage 2, MSPs can propose changes to a Bill. These are called 'amendments'. Any MSP can suggest amendments but only members of the Stage 2 committee can decide on them.
The Stage 2 Committee was the Health and Sport Committee.
No amendments were submitted at Stage 2.
The Bill ended Stage 2 on 23 February 2021
At Stage 3, MSPs can propose further amendments (changes) to the Bill. These are debated and decided on in the Debating Chamber. At this stage, all MSPs can vote on them. There is then a debate on whether to pass the Bill. If the Bill is not passed, it ‘falls’ and can't become law.
No amendments were submitted at Stage 3.
Once MSPs have decided on the amendments, they debate whether to pass the Bill.
Result 122 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 7 did not vote Vote Passed
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 3 on 10 March 2021
If the Bill is passed, it is normally sent for Royal Assent after about 4 weeks. Royal Assent is when the Bill gets formal agreement by the King and becomes an Act of the Scottish Parliament. Some Acts come into force straight after Royal Assent. Some only come into force on a later date. Sometimes different bits of the same Act come into force on different dates.
The Bill was passed on 10 March 2021 and became an Act on 23 April 2021.
University of St Andrews (Degrees in Medicine and Dentistry) Act 2021