§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce legislation to transfer responsibility for the regulation of the medical and dental professions from the Privy Council to Parliament. [113427]
§ Mr. DenhamThe responsibility for setting the regulatory framework lies with Parliament. This has been discharged through the passing of the Medical Act 1983 and the Dentist Act 1983 and subsequent primary and secondary legislation.
Parliament already has sufficient powers to call the General Medical Council (GMC) and the General Dental Council to account before the Health Select Committee which met on the 2 March 2000 to consider the role of the GMC.
58WWe are discussing with the regulatory bodies the need to modernise the arrangements for accountability. It is important that these arrangements are fit for the purpose and retain the confidence of the public, the professions, Government and Parliament.