§ Mr. BaronTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, (1) whether his Department has asked the European Commission to introduce transitional arrangements for health professionals from the new member states who do not meet the minimum training standards specified in the European Community directives on medicine, nursing, midwifery and dentistry by 1 May; [165222]
(2) when the European Commission will make a statement on the readiness of the 10 new member states to meet the minimum training standards specified in the European Community directives on medicine, nursing, midwifery and dentistry by 1 May; [165223]
(3) what powers the UK health regulators will have in relation to the assessment of individuals whose training may not meet minimum EU training requirements as specified in the European Community directives on medicine, nursing, midwifery and dentistry; [165224]
(4) what action the European Commission will take against those accession states that do not meet the minimum training standards specified in the European Community directives on medicine, nursing, midwifery and dentistry by 1 May; [165225]
(5) what efforts his Department has made to secure information from the European Commission as to which of the 10 new member states will have met the minimum training standards specified in the European Community directives on medicine, nursing, midwifery and dentistry by 1 May; and what work his Department has done in co-operation with other member states to secure that information. [165226]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 1 April 2004]: We are in regular contact with the European Commission and the other member states on this issue. The Commission's assessment is that training in all the acceding countries will meet minimum requirements after 1 May. It is for the Commission to determine what action to take in relation to any acceding countries that do not meet these requirements. Where the qualifications awarded by the acceding countries do not meet minimum requirements, 1223W the regulatory bodies are entitled to require proof of recent and substantial practice experience as a condition of recognition. Where such proof is not available, they are entitles to assess applicants on a case-by-case basis.