§ Mr. LansleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether proficiency in the use of the English language is a requirement for applicant doctors from the European Union seeking to register with the General Medical Council in order to work in the NHS. [162092]
§ Mr. HuttonDoctors who are European Economic Area nationals do not have to undertake English language competency tests in order to register with the General Medical Council. The law does not currently permit this. It is the responsibility of national health service employers to ensure that all doctors they employ have the necessary English language competence to carry out their duties safely. They may require a doctor to undertake a language assessment as part of the recruitment process, regardless of which country they come from.