To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statutory protection is provided to the patients of (i) paramedics, (ii) chiropodists, (iii) physiotherapists, (iv) clinical psychologists, (v) occupational therapists and (vi) speech therapists in (a) the National Health Service and (b) the private sector; and what plans he has to introduce measures to provide additional protection. [75224]
[pursuant to his reply, 15 March 1999, c. 555–56]: I regret that my previous answer contained inaccurate information relating to the restrictions on National Health Service employment of clinical psychologists and proposals for statutory regulation. The revised reply is as follows.Chiropodists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists are regulated under the Professions Supplementary to Medicine Act 1960. It is an offence
| Date | Destination | Reason | Personnel | £ |
| 1997 | ||||
| 12–14 May | Cannes | Launch Scottish Film Day | Sam Galbraith, Private Secretary and 2 officials | 4,160 |
| 19–20 May | Brussels | Agriculture Council | Lord Sewel and Private Secretary | 1,480 |
| 1–2 June | Brussels | Meet EU Commissioners | Lord Sewel, Private Secretary and official | 1,980 |
| 25–27 June | Luxembourg | Education Council | Brian Wilson and Private Secretary | 1,630 |
| 20–21 August | Santiago | Attend Celtic Watersports Festival and tourism promotion | Brian Wilson and Private Secretary | 1,685 |
| 2–4 September | Copenhagen | Study tour of Danish sport participation and school sports | Sam Galbraith, Private Secretary and official | 2,305 |
| 20–28 September | USA | Inward investment and trade promotion | Secretary of State and Private Secretary | 13,060 |
| 8–9 October | Brussels | Fact finding mission for Scottish Parliament | Secretary of State, Private Secretary and 5 officials | 3,980 |
| 4–10 October | Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan | Inward investment and trade promotion | Brian Wilson, Private Secretary and official | 25,070 |
| 5–6 October | Munich | Fact finding mission for Scottish Parliament | Henry McLeish, Private Secretary and 4 officials | 4,910 |
| 7–9 October | Oslo and Tampere | Meet Norwegian and Finnish Ministers to discuss Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry and the Environment | Lord Sewel, Private Secretary and 3 officials | 5,935 |
| 16 October | Luxembourg | Environmental Council | Lord Sewel, Private Secretary and official | 3,145 |
to pretend to be registered under that Act. In addition, employment in the National Health Service is restricted to those who are registered under the Act. We plan to replace the Act with new legislation to improve public protection, including restricting the use of common professional title to registered practitioners wherever they work.
NHS employment of speech and language therapists is restricted to members of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. NHS employment of paramedics is restricted to those who have a qualification accredited by the Institute of Health Care Development. We are currently considering petitions to extend the 1960 Act to these two professions.
NHS employment of clinical psychologists is restricted to those who are eligible for registration as a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society. The Society manages a voluntary register under the auspices of the Privy Council.
The Health Bill, currently before Parliament, contains proposals for the strengthening of professional self-regulation.