§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made as regards grandparent rights for non state-registered chiropodists; and if he 1223W will make a statement on progress in the negotiations taking place under the auspices of the Health Professions Council. [67978]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 8 July 20021There is a continuing dialogue, facilitated by the Department, between the health professions council (HPC), those bodies representing the currently unregulated chiropody sector and those representing the regulated sector. The arrangements for grandparenting (the assimilation of unregulated practitioners to regulated status) will not be finalised until after the HPC have completed and analysed the results of their public consultation. This is likely to be April 2003.