§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will require the General Medical Council to publish information on the number of complaints against doctors currently unresolved which indicates those outstanding for more than(a) six and (b) 12 months. [90898]
§ Mr. HuttonThe General Medical Council (GMC) has met its target, set in July 2000, that 100 per cent. of cases referred from the preliminary proceedings committee to the professional conduct committee were heard within a year.
The GMC is an independent statutory body which derives its powers from the Medical Act 1983. The Secretary of State has no power to require the GMC to publish such information. Data on the work of the fitness to practise directorate is available on the GMC website and the GMC will, of course, respond to specific queries.