To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely effects on independent midwifery of the implementation of Article 5 of the draft European Directive on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare, with specific reference to the provisions on professional liability insurance. (252133)

The draft directive on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare is currently subject to negotiations as part of the European co-decision process.

The Government have already signalled their intention that independent midwives should have professional indemnity cover and are committed to supporting them to do so.