§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mandate of the committee of senior officials on public health is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [56753]
§ Yvette CooperThe committee of senior officials on public health (CSOPH) was established in 1975 by European Council Decision 75/365/EEC, as a result of the adoption of the directives relating to medical training. Its mandate is set down in Article 2, which states that the task of the Committee shall be
to identify and analyse any difficulties which might arise from the implementation of Directives 75/362/EEC and 75/363/EEC (now Directive 93/16/EC);to collect all relevant information on the conditions under which general and specialist medical care is given by doctors in the Member States;to deliver opinions which could guide the Commission's work with a view to amendment of the above mentioned Directives.CSOPH's remit was extended by later Decisions to take in the same tasks for:The Committee is made up of senior officials with responsibility for national health care systems. Each member state is entitled to nominate one representative and one alternate. The UK representative and his alternate represent the Department of Health.
- Nurses responsible for general care;
- Midwives; and
- Dentists.
CSOPH meets twice each year, in July and December. Meetings last one day. Costs to public funds are minimal. The Commission pays the travel costs of the nominated representative but member states meet the costs if it is necessary for the alternate to attend as well.
In carrying out its duties, CSOPH is advised by a group of training advisory committees (TACs) made up of representatives from the relevant professional bodies.
Items on CSOPH's agenda vary, but typically include:
Problems relating to particular groups or individuals affected by the directives;Information on events of major importance that have occurred in each member state affecting the application of the directives;Medical demography; andDiscussions about necessary updates to the directives (for instance CSOPH is empowered to make certain decisions relating to training for medical specialisms).Member States are currently considering Commission proposals for streamlining the directives and processes relating to free movement of professionals. The issues arising from the Commission's proposals for the future of professional recognition were submitted to the Parliamentary Scrutiny Committees (Explanatory Memorandum No. 7239/92—COM(2002)119final) in April 2002.