§ 2.27 p.m.
§ LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCHMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government in respect of which foreign countries orders have been made under Section 19 of the Medical Act, 1956, providing for the registration in this country of foreign qualifications to practise medicine.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS AND FOR THE COLONIES (LORD TAYLOR)My Lords, Orders are in existence in respect 501 of Burma and South Africa. Reciprocal arrangements are also in operation with most parts of the Commonwealth covering most of their medical schools.
§ LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCHMy Lords, is it not most anomalous that there should be no such arrangements with countries such as the United States, France, the Scandinavian countries and Germany, which have made such notable contributions to medical research?
§ LORD TAYLORNo, my Lords, I do not think it is anomalous. These arrangements have in all cases to be reciprocal and most of the countries which my noble friend has named are themselves short of doctors and would therefore not be inclined to indulge in reciprocity of this kind. Doctors from those countries who are temporarily visiting this country are frequently given temporary registration which enables them to work in our hospitals.
§ LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCHMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend what approaches have been made to countries such as those which I mentioned?
§ LORD TAYLORSo, far as I know, no approaches have been made to those countries, though one country has made approaches to us—namely, Italy. They have not made any approaches for a period of about five years since they obtained reciprocity within the Common Market.
§ LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCHMy Lords, does it not follow from that, then, that it is not correct to say that the countries I mentioned have refused to enter into reciprocal arrangements?
§ LORD TAYLORMy Lords, I did not say that.