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

The University of St. Andrews (Degrees in Medicine and Dentistry) Bill - Data Protection Impact Assessment: Assessment not required declaration

Data Protection: Impact Assessment not required declaration

Title of Policy
University of St. Andrews (Degrees in Medicine and Dentistry) Bill

Lead Minister
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, Jeane Freeman

Directorate, Division and Team
Directorate for Health Workforce, Leadership and Service Reform
Health Workforce
Workforce Development

Name of Information Asset Owner (IOA) of relevant business unit
Stephen Lea-Ross

Is your proposal primary legislation, secondary legislation or a statutory measure?
Primary legislation

Name of primary legislation your measure is based on (if applicable)
Universities (Scotland) Act 1966

1. Provide a broad summary of which aspects of your proposal relate to personal data

No aspects of the proposal in this Bill relate to personal data.

The Bill is technical in nature and amends the Universities (Scotland) Act 1966 ("the 1966 Act") by repealing paragraph 17 of schedule 6. The 1966 Act currently prohibits the University of St. Andrews ("the University") from awarding medical and dentistry degrees. The Bill is single purpose and the policy objective is to remove the legislative prohibition as it is unfair, anti-competitive and serves no legitimate purpose in today's context.

2. What stage is your legislation or statutory measure at and what are your timelines?

Pre-introduction (1^st phase consultation).

3. What issue/public need is the proposal seeking to address?

The impetus for removing the legislative 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, as the first cohort will graduate in 2022. 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.

ScotGEM is Scotland's first graduate entry programme for medicine and it is jointly delivered by the Universities of Dundee and St. Andrews in collaboration with the University of the Highlands and Islands and partner Health Boards. It was announced by the First Minister in 2016 and formed part of a package of initiatives to meet the Scottish Government's commitment to create a more sustainable medical workforce and encourage more people into a career in healthcare, whatever their background.

4. Does your proposal create a new power or obligation for the processing of personal data?

No

5. Does your proposal relate to the collection of personal data?

No

6. Would your proposal affect a specific group? E.g. children, vulnerable individuals, elderly?

ScotGEM students, current and future, as mentioned above.

7. Does your proposal relate to the processing 'special categories' of personal data, or 'criminal convictions or offences data'?

No

8. Does your proposal involve the sharing of personal data with another government department or 3^rd party that you were not previously sharing with?

No

9. Is there anything potentially controversial or of signification public interest in your policy proposal?

No

10. Have you conducted a data protection impact assessment on your proposed legislation?

A Data Protection assessment is not required because the Bill will not directly impact on any personal information being collected or used.

I confirm that the decision to not carry forward a Data Protection assessment has been authorised by:

Stephen Lea-Ross
Deputy Director of Health Workforce

24 September 2020