§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the proposed European Directive on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications, with particular reference to the impact on the free movement of healthcare professionals; and what assessment she has made of the report adopted by the European Parliament on the Directive. [166873]
§ Jacqui SmithI welcome the simplification and rationalisation of existing rules relating to professional recognition, in particular new flexibilities proposed for temporary, cross-frontier provision of services. Simpler conditions for services provision will help improve labour mobility across the European Union and contribute to the creation of a real single market in services.
The European Commission and Council have recognised the need for controls for health professionals and I agree that prior checks of qualifications are necessary in some sectors, where human health and safety are at risk. In the case of health professionals, the UK is seeking to maintain current provisions for temporary and automatic recognition applying to doctors, dentists, general care nurses, midwives and 611W pharmacists, and is pressing for prior checks before temporary services provision in the cases of other health professionals.
The European Parliament has proposed a large number of amendments to the text of the draft Directive, which have yet to be incorporated by the Commission into a revised text. A re-assessment of the draft Directive will be made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education when the revised text has been presented to the Council.