Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Health and Care Professions Council meets the Professional Standards Authority Standard 15 on the time taken to conclude cases.

The Government takes the performance of the health and care professional regulators, including the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), very seriously.

On 27 June 2025, the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) published its 2024/25 performance review of the HCPC. The HCPC met 17 out of 18 of the PSA’s standards of good regulation but failed to meet standard 15.

On 29 October 2025, I met with the Chair and Chief Executive of the HCPC to discuss the PSA’s performance review of the HCPC. I expect the HCPC to improve its performance against standard 15.

During this parliamentary term, the Government will reform the HCPC’s legislative framework, which will allow it to operate a more efficient fitness to practise process.