§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on behalf of independent private sector chiropodists and podiatrists in respect of the draft Health Professions Council Order; and if he will place them in the Library.[12782]
§ Mr. HuttonWe hope shortly to lay before the House a report on the outcome of consultations. We have no plans to publish individual responses, but their authors are free to do so.
§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to amend the draft Health Professions Council Order to provide for independent private sector chiropodists and podiatrists to be represented on the Health Professions Council;[12783]
(2) if he will appoint a representative of independent private sector chiropodists and podiatrists to the Health Professions Council.[12781]
§ Mr. HuttonNo. There is scope on the Health Professions Council for one registrant member of each profession regulated by the council. The council will be able to recruit additional members to its committees including its professional advisory panels, and will be encouraged to cover all sectors of the professions.
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§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what his assessment is of the level of expertise of chiropodists and podiatrists trained by the SMAE Institute.[12784]
§ Mr. HuttonThe assessment of qualifications for the purposes of state registration is a matter for the Chiropodists Board of the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine.
I can confirm however that officials have been facilitating meetings with the registered and unregistered sector, which includes the SMAE Institute, to open dialogue between the two sectors. An agreement was reached at the last meeting in October for the unregistered sector to submit their course documentation for assessment. So far no documentation has been received.