§ 7.18 p.m.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Earl Howe) rose to move, That the draft order laid before the House on 18th January be approved [17th Report from the Joint Committee].
§ The noble Earl said: My Lords, the draft Veterinary Surgeons Qualifications (EEC Recognition) (Amendment) Order 1993 is made under the European Communities Act 1972 and amends that part of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 which relates to the automatic recognition of scheduled qualifications in veterinary surgery obtained in other member states.
§ The change is procedural and is required to meet our Community obligations, as set out in Chapter 4 of Council Directive 89/594/EEC on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications.
§ By way of background, I should like to explain that Section 6 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act enables the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to regulate who should be entitled to be registered to practise veterinary surgery in this country. In 1978, the European Community introduced measures to enable the automatic recognition of prescribed qualifications in veterinary surgery and allow the free movement of veterinarians between member states. Minimum training standards were introduced at the same time.
§ The Veterinary Surgeons Qualifications (EEC Recognition) Order 1980 implemented these measures in the UK by giving a veterinary surgeon, who was a national of a member state and held a recognised qualification in veterinary surgery, the right to be registered to practise in the UK and, accordingly, become a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
§ The draft order before the House makes provision for the registration of a holder of a qualification which was formerly recognised but has been replaced. It sets certain conditions and the holder must produce a certificate to the effect that the qualification is regarded by the awarding member state as equivalent to the recognised qualification; and that training has 414 been in accordance with Council Directive 78/1027/ EEC, which is known as the Training Directive. The draft order also takes account of minor changes which relate to the titles of veterinary qualifications and the awarding bodies in Greece and Spain.
§ The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and other interested organisations have been consulted and are content. Indeed, the Royal College is already implementing the change administratively. Currently there are about 15 veterinarians from Greece and about 45 veterinarians from Spain registered to work in the UK.
§ I reiterate that these changes are procedural. They do not represent a lowering of standards and I am satisfied that the requirements safeguard fully the level of professional expertise we expect in the UK. I commend the order to the House. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the draft order laid before the House on 18th January be approved [17th Report from the Joint Committee]. —(Earl Howe.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.