Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the Nursing and Midwifery Council about the adequacy of their disciplinary and enforcement powers; and what plans he has to reform their fitness to practice arrangements.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the independent body responsible for the regulation of nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom. It is responsible for the way it discharges its statutory duties including in relation to fitness to practise investigations.

The Department has been working with the NMC on a number of proposed legislative changes which will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its fitness to practise processes and officials have regular discussions with the NMC regarding its powers. The Department has recently consulted on these proposed changes and is currently considering the responses received.

The Government is committed to ensuring that professional regulation continues to provide effective protection for patients.