§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Lord President of the Council if he will conduct a review into the functions of the Privy Council; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonI have no plans to review the functions of the Privy Council.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Lord President of the Council how many appeals from the decisions of professional disciplinary bodies have been heard by the Privy Council in each of the last three years; and if he will provide a breakdown by professional body and the number which are(a) successful and (b) unsuccessful.
§ Mr. NewtonThe total number of appeals in each of the last three years has been:
340W
1990 4 1991 2 1992 8 (to date) The details are as follows:
General Dental Council 1990 1 successful, 1 unsuccessful 1991 None 1992 1 awaiting judgement
General Medical Council 1990 1 successful, 1 unsuccessful 1991 2 successful 1992 1 successful, 5 unsuccessful,1 awaiting judgement
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Lord President of the Council what representations he has received seeking a review of the functions of the Privy Council in relation to its function in hearing appeals from the decisions of professional disciplinary bodies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonI have received no such representations.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the functions of the Privy Council.
§ Mr. NewtonThe Privy Council advises the sovereign on the making of Royal Proclamations and Orders in Council, and on the grant and amendment of royal charters. It approves certain rules made by statutory registration councils responsible for the medical and certain other professions, and makes instruments of government for higher education corporations. The Privy Council is also responsible for certain appointments to statutory councils and to the governing bodies of universities and colleges, and for the appointment of high sheriffs. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is the final court of appeal from courts of the United Kingdom dependencies and from courts of those independent Commonwealth countries which have retained the right of appeal. The committee also hears appeals from courts of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, and from the disciplinary and health committees of the medical and allied professions, together with some ecclesiastical appeals.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Lord President of the Council what plans he has to ensure that appeals heard by the Privy Council from persons resident in Scotland are held in accordance with the principles of Scots law; and if he will maake a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonIt is for the Judicial Committee, on the basis of the facts and circumstances of each case, and having heard argument, to determine the relevant applicable legal principles.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Lord President of the Council how many appeals have been heard by the Privy Council from persons who have had their names erased from the medical register by the Professional Conduct Committee of the General Medical Council under the Medical Act 1983 in each of the last three years; and if he will provide a breakdown showing figures for(a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) England, (d) Northern Ireland and (e) the United Kingdom and the number which were (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful.
§ Mr. NewtonThe total number of appeals in each of the last three years has been:
1990 1 1991 1 1992 3 (to date) The details are as follows:
341W
Scotland 1990 None 1991 None 1992 1 awaiting judgment Wales 1990, 1991 and 1992 None England 1990 1 unsuccessful 1991 1 unsuccessful 1992 1 unsuccessful, 1 unsuccessful Northern Ireland 1990, 1991 and 1992 None