§ Barbara FollettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the professional advisory committees; and what discussions he has had with the Health Professions Council on its proposals for professional liaison groups. [94230]
§ Mr. HuttonI met with the President and Chief Executive of the Health Professions Council (HPC) on 4 December 2002, when all aspects of the HPC's proposals were discussed.
Under the Professions Supplementary to Medicine Act 1960, the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine (CPSM) had permanent standing uni-professional advisory committees. The Health Professions Order 2001 allows the Council to set up professional advisory committees to advise the Council or its statutory committees on matters affecting relevant professions. Any advisory groups or committees may be multi-professional with flexibility to provide profession specific advice as and when required. Ultimately, it is for the HPC to decide how best to obtain the necessary advice and also the mechanism for supplying it.