HC Deb 02 July 1991 vol 194 c119W
Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the arrangements within the European Community relating to the employment within the Community of overseas qualified doctors who have the status of British citizens and who are fully registered medical practitioners in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dorrell

We are aware of the difficulties that British citizens who are fully registered and hold overseas qualifications may experience in gaining access to employment in other member states. The European Commission has only recently provided information on each member state's arrangements for recognising overseas qualifications and we have not properly assessed them yet. The arrangements are currently being discussed in Brussels as part of an initiative by the Commission to examine the difficulties associated with recognition of overseas qualifications. We are represented at the discussions.

Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make representations in the EC Council of Ministers for the equal treatment in Community law of all British citizens who are fully registered medical practitioners in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dorrell

All British citizens have the right to establish themselves in any country of the Community. The main difference in the treatment of British citizens which relates to my responsibilities concerns medical practitioners who are fully registered but hold non-EC qualifications and the recognition of these qualifications by other member states. We are aware that Community citizens holding qualifications obtained outside the Community which are recognised in one state may experience difficulty in persuading other member states to accept them. However, the European Commission has begun an assessment of member states' arrangements for recognition of non-EC qualifications held by EC nationals. We are involved in the current discussions between member states on this complex issue.

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