§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what statements he has made since 1 July concerning the remedies available to the General Medical Council in respect of conduct of registered medical practitioners which they find unacceptable; what action he has taken; and what further steps he intends to take.
§ Mr. NewtonSince 1 July my right hon. Friend has not had occasion to make a statement on this matter. We continue to keep in touch with the General Medical Council on the effect of its revised guidance issued last year which effectively widened the scope of what constitutes serious professional misconduct.
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to introduce legislation to provide the General Medical Council with statutory powers to take remedial action in respect of registered medical practitioners whose conduct their professional conduct committee has judged unacceptable.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe General Medical Council has statutory powers to take remedial action in respect of registered medical practitioners whose conduct its professional conduct committee has judged serious professional misconduct. In exercising those powers in 1985 the committee, according to the General Medical Council's annual report, considered 53 cases. The names of 13 doctors were erased from the medical register; eight doctors were suspended from the register; conditions were imposed on the continued right to practise of two doctors; three cases were adjourned to 1986 and a further 12 doctors were found guilty of serious professional misconduct and were admonished or the cases otherwise concluded. We have no present plans to extend the council's disciplinary powers but we will continue to discuss with the council any possible problems in this area.