Chamber and committees

Also under this agenda item, no points have been raised on the following instruments.

Is the committee content with the instruments?

Members indicated agreement.

Under agenda item 3, we are considering instruments subject to the negative procedure. An issue has been raised on the following instrument.

The instrument makes various amendments to legal aid fees and eligibility in Scotland. The committee identified errors inserted by the instrument into schedule 2 to the Criminal Legal Aid (Scotland) (Fees) Regulations 1989 in relation to chapter 1 of part 3 of the table of fees. In new paragraph 3(cb)(i), the reference to paragraph 1AA(d) should be to 1AA(e). In new paragraph 3(cb)(iii), the reference to paragraph 1AA(e) should be to 1AA(f). Those references are all in relation to chapter 1 of part 3 of the table of fees.

The Scottish Government has confirmed that those are cross-referencing errors and has undertaken to rectify them by correction slip, or at the next suitable legislative opportunity.

Does the committee wish to draw the instrument to the attention of the Parliament on the general reporting ground, for those cross-referencing errors?

Members indicated agreement.

At the same time, does the committee wish to note that the Scottish Government has undertaken to correct the errors by correction slip, or at the next suitable legislative opportunity?

Members indicated agreement.

Throughout recent times, the oral health improvement group has suggested bringing in directors of dentistry in each health board area, which has since happened. Has that been beneficial?

We have heard about profit and loss making. We have heard that dentistry is a business but you care about people. You have said that the problem is not new but has existed for the past decade, and that dentistry needs to be made more attractive. I have a few questions about making it attractive. First, what is the average salary for an NHS dentist, in comparison with a dentist who does private work?

Dr Bashir, is the narrative that you just gave the committee the same narrative that has been put forward to the Scottish Government and its officials? It certainly sounded very clear and it sounded like a logical step forward, but that is not what has come across in some of the paperwork.

Why did 30 per cent of dentists, according to your survey, and 31 per cent of the respondents to the committee’s survey not apply for the additional funding throughout the Covid pandemic?

What funding or other measures would have increased capacity and recovery for practices?