asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether their recent policy announcement on breaking down the demarcation between the medical profession and other professions and maximising the use of skills within them is applicable to podiatric surgery. [HL1368]

We have recently announced that we intend to modernise the National Health Service by introducing fundamental reforms to the ways in which services are delivered. Podiatric surgery is undertaken by a small number of additionally qualified chiropodists and plays a useful role in the overall provision of orthopaedic care. The development of podiatric surgery is consistent with the Government's desire to end traditional demarcations which may inhibit the modernisation of services.