Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Amendment) (Extension to Switzerland etc.) Regulations 2024
Debate between Baroness Garden of Frognal and Lord Jones
Baroness Garden of Frognal (LD)
My Lords, in the absence of anybody else, I thank the Minister very much for setting out so clearly these regulations. Over the years, I have been involved in all manner of discussions about recognition of vocational and professional qualifications. I have never come across a regulation as clearly good as this one. It seems to be totally uncontroversial. It is broad, is it not? It covers Lords, pilots, osteoporosis people and all sorts of interesting professions. My briefing said that no speech was required but I cannot resist saying that we on these Benches fully support this measure.
Lord Jones (Lab)
My Lords, I thank the Minister for his informative remarks, made in the most clear and precise tones imaginable. I acknowledge also my appreciation of the manner in which these regulations have been drawn up and the helpfulness of the Explanatory Memorandum.
With regard to the Explanatory Memorandum, at paragraph 4.2 there is reference to aptitude tests. Do the Minister’s officials have any idea how many such aptitude tests are taken annually, and what has been the situation on those tests in Wales? Is there a record in the department?
Do these regulations particularly apply to medicine? It is clearly of importance when the NHS and private medicine are considered. What are the major professions that come under these regulations, not simply medicine?
I should like to ask about Wales specifically. At paragraph 4.5, I am looking at the “territorial scope” and it is clear that Wales is separate. Is that the case for other nations? How many regulations are undertaken by the Welsh Government? Is there assistance to Wales in the making of regulations of this kind and if there is, what is the nature of that assistance? Is it by officials only? Do Ministers meet face to face, from one Parliament to another? Is it otherwise down the line, or is it simply a set of regulations totally made in Wales by Welsh Senators and Welsh Ministers?