HC Deb 23 May 2002 vol 386 cc581-5W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mandate of the advisory committee on training in nursing 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. [56756]

Mr. Hutton

The advisory committee on training in nursing (ACTN) is one of a group of committees set up to advise the European Commission and member states on matters relating to the training of workers whose professions come under sectoral directives guaranteeing free movement and automatic recognition of qualifications.

The ACTN was set up by Council Decision 77/454/EEC. Its mandate is set down in Article 2, which states that:

1. The task of the Committee shall be to help ensure a comparably demanding standard in the training of the various categories of nursing personnel throughout the Community.

2. It shall carry out this task, in particular, by the following means: exchange of comprehensive information as to the training methods and the content, level and structure of theoretical and practical courses provided in the member states, discussion and consultation with the object of developing common approaches to the standard to be attained in the training of nursing personnel, and, as appropriate, to the structure and content of such training, keeping under the review the adaption of the above-mentioned training to developments in nursing practice, medical and social science and teaching methods.

3. The Committee shall communicate to the Commission and the Member States its opinions and recommendations including, when it considers it appropriate, suggestions for amendments to

A and E data are not available for the individual hospital requested. The Oldchurch hospital is part of Barking, Havering and Redbridge hospitals national health service trust, which was formed in April 2001 (previously it was part of Havering hospitals NHS trust). Information on the number of A and E attendances at the NHS organisation that contained the Oldchurch hospital is given in the table.

be made to the provisions concerning training in the Directives relating to nursing activities as in Directives 77/452 EEC and 77/453/EEC.

4. The Committee shall also advise the Commission on any matter which the Commission may refer to it in relation to the training of nursing personnel.

Each advisory committee has three members per member state—one each from the practising profession, the education establishments and the competent authorities concerned. Three alternates are also appointed. Members and alternates are nominated by Ministers following consultation with the relevant professional bodies.

Advisory committee expenses fall to be paid by the Commission (or on occasion by the professions concerned). There is thus no direct charge to public funds.

Member states are currently considering Commission proposals for streamlining the directives and processes relating to free movement of professionals. None of the advisory committees has met during the last 12 months; and none of them has any items under consideration.

In April this year, the issues arising from the Commission's proposals for the future of professional recognition were submitted to the Parliamentary Scrutiny Committees (Explanatory Memorandum No. 7239/02-COM(2002)119final).

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mandate of the advisory committee on medical training 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. [56755]

Mr. Hutton

The advisory committee on medical training (ACMT) is one of a group of committees set up to advise the European Commission and member states on matters relating to the training of workers whose professions come under sectoral directives guaranteeing free movement and automatic recognition of qualifications.

The ACMT was set up by Council Decision 75/364/EEC. Its mandate is set down in Article 2, which states that:

1. "The Task of the Committee shall be to help to ensure a comparably demanding standard of medical training in the Community, with regard both to basic training and further training".

2. It shall carry out this task, in particular, by the following means: exchange of comprehensive information as to the training methods and the content, level and structure of theoretical and practical courses provided in the member states; discussion and consultation with the object of developing common approaches to the standard to be attained in the training of doctors and, as appropriate, to the structure and content of such training; keeping under review the adaptation of medical training to developments in medical science and teaching methods.

3. The Committee shall communicate to the Commission and the member states its opinions and recommendations including, when it considers it appropriate, suggestions for amendments to be made to the Articles relating to the training of doctors as in Directives 75/362/EEC and 75/363/EEC.

4. The Committee shall also advise the Commission on any matter which the Commission may refer to it in relation to the training of doctors.

Each advisory committee has three members per member state—one each from the practising profession, the education establishments and the competent authorities concerned. Three alternates are also appointed. Members and alternates are nominated by Ministers following consultation with the relevant professional bodies.

Advisory committee expenses fall to be paid by the Commission (or on occasion by the professions concerned).

Member states are currently considering Commission proposals for streamlining the directives and processes relating to free movement of professionals. None of the advisory committees has met during the last 12 months; and none of them has any items under consideration.

In April this year, the issues arising from the Commission's proposals for the future of professional recognition were submitted to the parliamentary Scrutiny Committees (Explanatory Memorandum No. 7239/02— COM(2002)119 final).

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mandate of the advisory committee on the training of dental practitioners 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. [56758]

Mr. Hutton

The advisory committee on dental training (ACDT) is one of a group of committees set up to advise the European Commission and member states on matters relating to the training of workers whose professions come under sectoral directives guaranteeing free movement and automatic recognition of qualifications.

The ACDT was set up by Council Decision 78/688/EEC. Its mandate is set down in Article 2, which states that:

1. The Task of the Committee shall be to help ensure a comparably demanding standard in the training of dental practitioners in the Community, with regard both to the training of dental practitioners and that of practitioners of specialised dentistry.

2. It shall carry out this task, in particular, by the following means: exchange of comprehensive information as to the training methods and the content, level and structure of theoretical and practical courses provided in the member states, discussion and consultation with the object of developing common approaches to the standard to be attained in the training of dental practitioners and, as appropriate, to the structure and content of such training, keeping under the review the adaptation of the training of dental practitioners to developments in dental science and teaching methods.

3. The Committee shall communicate to the Commission and the member states its opinions and recommendations including, when it considers it appropriate, suggestions for amendments to be made to the Articles relating to the training of dental practitioners as in Directives 78/686/EEC and 78/687/EEC.

4. The Committee shall also advise the Commission on any matter which the Commission may refer to it in relation to the training of dental practitioners.

Each advisory committee has three members per member state—one each from the practising profession, the education establishments and the competent authorities concerned. Three alternates are also appointed. Members and alternates are nominated by Ministers following consultation with the relevant professional bodies.

Advisory committee expenses fall to be paid by the Commission (or on occasion by the professions concerned).

Member states are currently considering Commission proposals for streamlining the directives and processes relating to free movement of professionals. None of the advisory committees has met during the last 12 months; and none of them has any items under consideration.

In April this year, the issues arising from the Commission's proposals for the future of professional recognition were submitted to the parliamentary Scrutiny Committees (Explanatory Memorandum No. 7239/02— COM(2002)119 final).

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mandate of the advisory committee on the training of midwives 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. [56757]

Mr. Hutton

The advisory committee on the training of midwives (ACTM) is one of a group of committees set up to advise the European Commission and member states on matters relating to the training of workers whose professions come under sectoral directives guaranteeing free movement and automatic recognition of qualifications.

The ACTM was set up by Council Decision 80/156/EEC. Its mandate is set down in Article 2, which states that:

1. The Task of the Committee shall he to help ensure throughout the Community a comparably high standard in the training of midwives.

2. It shall carry out this task, in particular, by the following means: exchange of comprehensive information as to the training methods and the content, level and structure of theoretical and practical courses provided in the member states, discussion and consultation with the object of developing common approaches to the standard to be attained in the training of midwives, and, as appropriate, to the structure and content of such training, keeping under the review the adaptation of the above-mentioned training to developments in midwifery practice, medical and social science and teaching methods.

3. The Committee shall communicate to the Commission and the Member States its opinions and recommendations including, when it considers it appropriate, suggestions for amendments to be made to the articles concerning training of midwives in Directives 80/154/EEC and 80/155/EEC.

4. The Committee shall also advise the Commission on any matter which the Commission may refer to it in relation to the training of midwives.

Each advisory committee has three members per member state—one each from the practising profession, the education establishments and the competent authorities concerned. Three alternates are also appointed. Members and alternates are nominated by Ministers following consultation with the relevant professional bodies.

Advisory committee expenses fall to be paid by the Commission (or on occasion by the professions concerned). There is thus no direct charge to public funds.

Member states are currently considering Commission proposals for streamlining the directives and processes relating to free movement of professionals. None of the advisory committees has met during the last 12 months; and none of them has any items under consideration.

In April this year, the issues arising from the Commission's proposals for the future of professional recognition were submitted to the Parliamentary Scrutiny Committees (Explanatory Memorandum No. 7239/02-COM(2002) 119final).

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