§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give details of the approach that has been made to him by senior representatives of doctors, nurses, chemists, and other branches of the Health Service regarding the free movement of doctors within the European Economic Community and the standardisation of their 151W training; what were the objections made; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephI assume that the hon. Member is referring to the letter which Dr. Stevenson, the Secretary of the British Medical Association, sent to me after the conference of representatives of the health professions organised by the British Medical Association in February. In his letter Dr. Stevenson drew my attention to the fear expressed by most of the representatives that entry to the E.E.C. might lead to a lowering of standards of professional qualification and conduct in this country, and to the hope expressed by the conference that I would exert my influence, whenever the opportunity occurs, to persuade the European Community to move towards our standards of professional qualification and registration in the health field.
In my reply I told Dr. Stevenson that it had been arranged with the Six that in the interim period before our accession they would consult us about the draft directives relating to the health professions when the Six themselves have been able to reach a common approach. As from the date of accession we would of course play a full part in determining the final form of directives adopted after that date. Meanwhile the process of consultation with professional organisations is continuing and we would take full account of their views in the observations we put forward on the proposed directives. I did point out to Dr. Stevenson that it was by no means the case that all the existing draft directives set standards which were significantly lower than our own, but I recognised the concern expressed about this and I assured him that I regarded it as of the utmost importance to ensure that the desirable aim of freedom to practise anywhere within the Community did not result in any significant lowering of our standards in the United Kingdom.