The Scottish National Party's manifesto stated:

"Scotland has one of the worst records in Europe for dental health".

In his 5 September statement on the Government's programme, the First Minister expressed concern that one in three children living in severe poverty does not have access to an NHS dentist. However, "Principles and Priorities: the Government's Programme for Scotland" is silent on the issue of dentists. Is the minister aware of the shortage of NHS dentists in Fife? Is she aware that many of my constituents in North East Fife want to access an NHS dentist but are unable to do so?

In a debate in 2005, the then Opposition spokesperson Shona Robison stated:

"The Executive will be judged on whether everyone who wants access to an NHS dentist will get access to an NHS dentist within a reasonable timeframe."—[Official Report, 17 November 2005; c 20799.]

What does the minister think that a reasonable timescale is? Can she explain why the word "dentist" does not even appear in the Government's programme of priorities?