Written question asked by Pete Wishart (Scottish National Party) on Wednesday, 2 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 9 March 2005. It was answered by Lord Hutton of Furness (Labour) on Wednesday, 9 March 2005 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on current and planned future regulation of the counselling and psychotherapy profession in England; and what discussions he has held with (a) the Health Minister in the Scottish Executive, (b) the National Assembly for Wales Secretary for Health and (c) the Northern Ireland Office on current and future regulation of the counselling and psychotherapy profession across the UK.

Answer: Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on current and planned future regulation of the counselling and psychotherapy profession in England; and what discussions he has held with (a) the Health Minister in the Scottish Executive, (b) the National Assembly for Wales Secretary for Health and (c) the Northern Ireland Office on current and future regulation of the counselling and psychotherapy profession across the UK. [220307] Mr. Hutton: Counsellors and psychotherapists are not currently subject to statutory regulation. Some are subject to partial voluntary regulation through membership of professional organisations. Departmental officials in England are working towards the statutory regulation of counsellors and psychotherapists via the Health Professions Council (HPC). The HPC is a United Kingdom-wide regulator. However, since regulation of currently unregulated professions is a devolved matter it is for the health department of the Scottish Executive (SEHD), the National Assembly of Wales (NAW) and the Northern Ireland Office (NOI) to decide whether or not they wish to regulate counsellors and psychotherapists in this way. Departmental officials keep their counterparts in the SEHD, NAW and NIO informed regularly about progress in this area.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 431 c1902-3W;431 c1895-6W; 220307
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Counselling Health services NHS Professions National Assembly for Wales Mental health services Psychiatry Regulation Scottish Executive Psychology Northern Ireland Office
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk