Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on the statutory regulation of physician associates; and if he will make a statement.

The Government supports the current policy that the extension of statutory regulation to unregulated groups (such as physician associates) will only be considered where there is a compelling case on the basis of public safety and where voluntary registers accredited by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care are not considered sufficient to manage this risk.