§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action has been taken to implement Council Directive 82/76/EEC in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeDirective 82/76/EEC amended a number of provisions in the original EC medical directives (75/362/EEC and 75/363/EEC) which had been implemented in the United Kingdom by an order, most of the provisions of which are now consolidated in the Medical Act 1983. The adoption of this directive did not call for any amendments to this legislation, but added provisions laying down the characteristics of full-time and part-time training for specialist doctors. The annex also stated that training posts should be recognised by a "competent authority" and the doctor in training should participate in the full range of medical duties associated with the post. This directive had to be implemented in the United Kingdom by 31 December 1982.
The General Medical Council has, under section 5 of the Medical Act 1983, the general function of coordinating all stages of medical education and was formally designated in 1976 as the competent authority under the original directives. Our Department therefore consulted the General Medical Council about implementing the amending directive, and was advised that the medical royal colleges, the Faculty of Anaesthetists and the joint higher training committees should be designated as the competent authorities for the purposes of the new training provisions since these bodies are responsible in the United Kingdom for deciding the content and length of specialist training, for approving training posts in hospitals and for awarding specialist qualifications. My right hon. Friend accepted this advice, and notified the royal colleges, the Faculty of Anaesthetists and the joint higher training committees that they were to be responsible for this in their respective fields. They all accepted and the European Commission has been notified accordingly.