§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what arrangements will be made to support students(a) financially and (b) otherwise in obtaining a professionally recognised osteopathy qualification who are currently students at the John Wernham College of Classical Osteopathy; [130017]
(2) how many students will be affected by the decision of the General Osteopathic Council to refuse accreditation to (a) the John Wernham College of Classical Osteopathy and (b) similar colleges in the UK; [130015]
(3) how many vacancies exist in the UK on osteopathy courses accredited by the General Osteopathic Council; [130016]
(4) what discussions he has had with the General Osteopathic Council regarding the decision to refuse accreditation to the John Wernham College of Classical Osteopathy; and if he will make a statement. [130013]
§ Yvette CooperI have had no discussions with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) on these matters. Under the Osteopaths Act 1993, the GOsC may formally recognise osteopathic qualifications for the purposes of statutory registration with the approval of the Privy Council. However, the Act does not require the GOsC to seek the approval of the Privy Council for any decision it makes not to recognise a qualification. I understand that the John Wernham College of Classical Osteopathy has been given leave to apply for a judicial review of GOsC's decision in its case.
The Department has been informed that some 75 students at the John Wernham College are likely to be affected by the GOsC's decision not to recognise its qualification. The college, and its validating body the North East Surrey College of Technology, are responsible for advising and assisting those students. The GOsC has no statutory duty to assist students in these circumstances but has requested that all schools of osteopathy applying to have their qualifications recognised prepare a contingency plan in the event that their applications are unsuccessful. It is now trying to assist the John Wernham College to activate its contingency plan.
465WThe GOsC has recognised osteopathic qualifications provided by five other schools. The Department has been informed that these currently cater for around 850 students in total but the Department does not have information on any vacancies that may exist.