§ 28. Mr. Jim Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has held talks with the Overseas Doctors' Association with a view to expanding the numbers of agreed training posts available.
§ Dr. VaughanThis is a subject that has been raised at the regular meetings between the Overseas Doctors' Association and the Department. I am satisfied that over the country as a whole and in all save a few shortage specialties there are more than sufficient training posts available to ensure that sufficient suitably experienced candidates will be available to meet likely requirements for career grade posts in the hospital and general medical services in the forseeable future and to meet demand from overseas doctors seeking training in this country.
§ 52. Mr. Leightonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has initiated talks with the European Commission to enable overseas doctors, legitimately registered and resident in Great Britain and working in the National Health Service, to have the right of free movement throughout the Community.
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§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergAll United Kingdom nationals who have trained, and obtained primary medical qualifications, in member States of the European Community are free to practise throughout the Community whatever their place of birth. We have also no evidence that those who hold medical qualifications granted outside the Community who wish to practise in other EC States have been prevented from doing so. To grant them such freedom of movement as of right would, however, require amendment of the EC medical directives and I understand other member States are unlikely to support this. However, the Department is discussing with representatives of the medical profession, with the president of the General Medical Council and with Commission officials whether anything further could be done to improve the position of these doctors.