HC Deb 01 April 1996 vol 275 cc47-8W
Ms Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors from outside the European Economic Area visited the United Kingdom in each of the last five years as part of educational exchanges with British GPs. [23394]

Mr. Malone

This information is not available centrally.

Ms Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding the difficulties experienced by British GPs arranging educational exchanges with GPs from outside the European Economic Area. [23395]

Mr. Malone

Representations have been received from the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Joint Committee on Postgraduate Training for General Practice the General Medical Services Committee of the British Medical Association, "Doctor" magazine and a number of individual GPs.

Ms Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what extent the proposal for a special licence for international exchanges that would permit a doctor from abroad to practice in the United Kingdom for a specific period, at a specific location, under the supervision of a named mentor, is compatible with a single standard of entry into general practice in the United Kingdom. [23396]

Mr. Malone

The standard of experience which a doctor requires for entry to general practice is set for the United Kingdom by the Joint Committee on Postgraduate Training for General Practice, which is the UK's competent authority in this area. Either a doctor meets this standard, and may practise in the UK, or he does not, and may not practise. We do not propose to introduce a special licence to allow doctors who do not meet the joint committee's standards to work in general practice.

Ms Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he has taken to facilitate exchanges between British GPs and those from outside the European Economic Area. [23397]

Mr. Malone

Nothing in United Kingdom legislation prevents such exchanges taking place. We encourage exchanges between United Kingdom general practitioners and general practitioners from other countries. The incoming doctor must meet the standard for working in general practice in the United Kingdom which is set by the Joint Committee on Postgraduate Training for General Practice.