§ Mr. Patrick McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services in view of the widespread growing us of acupuncture techniques in the United Kingdom, if he will introduce legislation to seek to control the operation of acupuncturists in order to ensure the establishment of a proper register and proper standards of hygiene.
§ Mr. Tierneyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce legislation to seek to compel the registration of acupuncturists and enforce proper standards of hygiene and safety in their practice.
§ Mr. DeakinsMy right hon. Friend does not consider that new legislation to introduce compulsory registration of acupuncturists would be justified. Application of the Professions Supplementary to Medicine Act 1960 can be extended to provide for the creation of a registration board for acupuncturists should they themselves seek this and should the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine and the Privy Council agree following consultation with existing registration boards for other professions registered under the Act.
Registration would not in itself ensure hygiene. A self-employed acupuncturist offering services to the public already has 755W a responsibility under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that he and other persons (not being his employees) who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety".Failure to comply with the provisions of the Act can lead to prosecution which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.