Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the pass mark for the International English Language Test for doctors and nurses was last reviewed; and when he next plans to review the pass mark.

Language testing of doctors and nurses, where this is deemed necessary to evidence language competency, is a matter for the General Medical Council and Nursing and Midwifery Council respectively as part of their registration or fitness to practise processes. Government policy on language controls is aimed at ensuring that only health and care professionals who have a sufficient knowledge of the English language are able to work in the United Kingdom, in the interests of patient safety and public protection.