§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he plans to meet representatives of practitioners of alternative medicine regarding the establishment of a state register of osteopaths; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what steps his Department take to monitor the standard of practice by alternative medicine practitioners; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what steps his Department takes to monitor the adequacy of training given to alternative medicine practitioners; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CurrieMedical practitioners in the National Health Service, who must by law be registered with the1032W General Medical Council, can offer to use any form of treatment, including alternative medicine, which they consider to be in the interests of their patients and which they feel competent to provide. Practitioners of alternative medicine who work outside the National Health Service are at liberty to offer their services privately, subject to the provisions of statute and civil law. The Department does not monitor or endorse the training of such practitioners. We have no plans to do so. The establishment of a state register of osteopaths is primarily a matter for the practitioners of that therapy. However, my noble Friend has met representatives of the General Council and Register of Osteopaths and the British Chiropractic Association, at their request, so that they could inform her of their proposals for state registration.