§ Martin LintonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he proposes to make a draft order on the Regulation of herbal medicine and acupuncture: Proposals for statutory regulation for consultation; and when he proposes to lay the draft order before Parliament; [187484]
(2) how many responses he has received to the Regulation of herbal medicine and acupuncture: Proposals for statutory regulation; and how many were (a) in favour of and (b) against his Department's proposals for collaborative regulation; [187485]
1499W(3) if he will publish the results of the consultation on the Regulation of herbal medicine and acupuncture: Proposals for statutory regulation. [187486]
§ Mr. HuttonOn 2 March, I published proposals for the statutory regulation of herbal medicine and acupuncture practitioners. The consultation period closed on 7 June. An analysis of the responses to the consultation will be published in the autumn. I plan to publish draft legislation for further consultation in 2005.
In all, about 700 responses have been received, of which 255 expressed a view about the proposals for collaborative regulation. Of these responses, 93 agreed with the proposals in the consultative document and 162 disagreed. In addition I received over 200 letters as part of a write-in campaign specifically expressing concern about the proposals for collaborative regulation.