HC Deb 19 September 2003 vol 410 cc1257-8W
Dr. Fox

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to propose statutory regulation of the acupuncture profession.[130317]

Mr. Hutton

A working group has been established by the Department and the Prince of Wales's foundation for integrated health to develop recommendations for the statutory regulation of acupuncture. The working group is currently finalising its recommendations and is due to report shortly. A parallel working group is also finalising recommendations for the statutory regulation of herbal medicine. Following the publication of the Working groups' reports, the department will carry out a full public consultation on the statutory regulation of acupuncture and herbal medicine.