Medical School Admissions

HC Deb 08 January 2002 vol 377 cc725-6W

Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps have been taken by medical schools over the past five years to improve accessibility of courses to people with disabilities. [24659]

Margaret Hodge

Under the Medical Act 1983, university medical schools are required to ensure that students are fit to practise as doctors when they graduate. To this end, in February 1999 the Council of Heads of Medical Schools issued guidance on admissions making it clear that a disability should not be a bar to becoming a doctor provided it did not impair fitness to practise. More generally, medical schools will—with the rest of universities—be subject from September 2002 to the provisions of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001.

to give confidence to colleges that they can consolidate TPI pay awards if they wish. Funding beyond 2003–04 will need to recognise that TPI arrangements represent on-going commitments for colleges and that increases awarded to teachers will not be removed.