To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has (a) to extend regulation of chiropodists and podiatrists to cover all foot health practitioners who use the techniques of chiropody and (b) to prevent foot health practitioners advertising their services as chiropody services. (81081)

[holding answer 29 June 2006]: Extension of statutory regulation to groups not currently regulated is being considered as part of a review of regulation. We will publish our decisions on the outcome of the review when ready. Under the Health Professions Order 2001, it is an offence for anyone falsely to represent himself as registered by the Health Professions Council in one of the professions regulated by it, to use a title to which he is not entitled or falsely to represent himself to possess qualifications in a relevant profession. The relevant professions include chiropody and podiatry.