HC Deb 20 January 2003 vol 398 c137W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the relationship between the change to the English language requirement for overseas doctors as outlined in the Medical Act 1993 Amendment Order 2002 and the provisions of Article 49 of the European draft directive on medical qualifications. [88173]

Mr. Hutton

It is desirable that a doctor should have to satisfy the General Medical Council that he or she has the necessary knowledge of English before he or she can be registered. Our recent changes to the Medical Act and our position on the Commission's proposal both express this principle. We have also made it clear that we expect employers to ensure that all staff have the knowledge of English necessary for the work to be done, regardless of their registration status.