Chamber and committees

Ministers meet COSLA regularly to discuss a number of issues. The Cabinet Secretary has also met the Chief Executive of the General Teaching Council for Scotland on one occasion to discuss matters of mutual interest.

All student teachers in publicly funded places are guaranteed a one-year teaching post on the teacher induction scheme. This affords them the opportunity to reach full registration in one school year. Ministers meet representatives of COSLA on a regular basis and discuss a number of issues. For 2007-08 the Scottish Government provided local authorities with an additional £9 million to enable them to employ additional teachers. That funding has been baselined and forms part of the local government finance settlement. In addition we have signed a concordat with local government that allows them to maintain teacher numbers at a time of falling school rolls.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11641 on 22 April 2008. The legislation requiring these practitioners to register with the General Dental Council was laid before the Scottish Parliament as well as Westminster. There are no plans for any changes.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

It is already a legal requirement, and has been since July 2006, that clinical dental technicians (also known as denturists), who fit and make dentures, must be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) in order to practise. Some have already registered. Regulation and registration, whose prime purpose is to enhance patient safety, allows clinical dental technicians to work within the law. In the past those fitting dentures were committing a criminal offence, as only dentists or persons acting under the supervision of dentists were able to do so.

The 2006 legislation also requires dental technicians, who make but do not fit dentures, to register with the GDC by 31 July 2008. They have had since July 2006 to register on the basis of GDC approved experience and/or qualifications. From 31 July 2008 they can only register on the basis of approved qualifications. The GDC has carried out a widespread publicity campaign to ensure that dental technicians register before the deadline.

There are a number of Scottish courses leading to the qualifications required for registration as a dental technician. It is also recognised that there are dental technicians who wish to register as clinical dental technicians so that they can fit as well as make dentures. A Scottish course has been developed for approval by the GDC.

I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-11637 and S3W-11638 on 18 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Since July 2006, clinical dental technicians have been required to register with the GDC in order to practise.

The Edinburgh Dental Institute has submitted a course curriculum to the General Dental Council (GDC) for approval by their education committee. This will aim to provide dental technicians with the means for securing registration as a clinical dental technician with the GDC.

Responsibility for the UK regulation, including registration, of dental technicians and clinical dental technicians lies with the General Dental Council (GDC). It is the GDC who determines the appropriate UK standard of proficiency required for a person to practise competently and safely, and the content and standard of the education and training (including practical experience) it considers is necessary for imparting the knowledge and skills required for individuals to obtain that proficiency.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11637 on 18 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Details of the course will be made publicly available following approval by the General Dental Council (GDC).

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11638 on 18 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The employment of teachers is a matter for local authorities as employers. All student teachers in publicly funded places are guaranteed a one-year teaching post on the teacher induction scheme. This affords them the opportunity to reach full registration in one school year. We have also signed a concordat with local government that enables them to maintain teacher numbers at a time of falling school rolls and significant levels of retirement.

Ministers meet COSLA regularly to discuss a number of issues.