Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that regulations regarding invasive cosmetic procedures provide the same level of protection as those concerning cosmetic surgery.

On 24 April 2013, the independent Review of the Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions, chaired by Sir Bruce Keogh, was published. A copy has already been placed in the Library.

The Government Response to the Review of the Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions was published on 13 February. A copy of the response has already been placed in the Library. We fully accept the principles of the Keogh review and the overwhelming majority of the recommendations. The response looks to protect the public through clear standards, better training and robust qualifications, and explores how far supervision from regulated professionals might support self-regulation of the sector.

Officials are working with key delivery partners such as the Royal College of Surgeons who have set up an inter-specialty committee to ensure standards for cosmetic surgery and they are working with the General Medical Council on a code of ethical conduct. Health Education England (HEE) is leading on a review of training and qualifications for providers of non-surgical cosmetic interventions and those required to be responsible prescribers. On 11 September, HEE published a phase 1 report Review of qualifications required for delivery of non-surgical cosmetic interventions. A copy of the report is attached. Work is also underway on a pilot breast implant registry to reassure women that if problems arise they can be contacted, kept informed and called in for treatment if necessary.

As part of this programme of work to ensure proper training and oversight of both non-surgical and surgical cosmetic interventions, we are looking at the need for legislation to ensure public protection and will consider bringing forward proposals.