§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the EEC directives giving doctors in the nine member States freedom to practice anywhere in the Community to be fully implemented in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. EnnalsI am unable as yet to add anything to my hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, South (Mr. Pavitt) on 14th December.—[Vol. 922, c.636.]
§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current position regarding the right of doctors practising in Great Britain but holding medical qualifications from countries outside the EEC to practise within other member states of the EEC.
§ Mr. EnnalsIt is open to any member State to give doctors with third country qualifications the right to practise within its own territory, but such doctors are not given the right of free movement under the EEC medical directives. The British Medical Association and the Overseas Doctors' Association have represented to me that the provisions of the directives should be extended so as to provide that all doctors who are United Kingdom nationals and are fully registered with the General Medical Council should be entitled to free movement within the EEC. I accept that there is a case for such an extension, but I have at present no evidence that our Community522W partners will be prepared to agree to it: and they could in any event scarcely be expected to do so without corresponding privileges being offered to their own nationals in an equivalent position. Before raising the matter formally in Brussels, my Department is accordingly seeking information about the doctors at present practising in other member states who would have a right to practise in the United Kingdom if the provisions of the directives were extended along the lines envisaged.