Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the General Medical Council about reforming regulatory procedures for doctors using powers under section 60 of the Health Act 1999.

Officials from the Department are working closely with the General Medical Council to develop the necessary legislation to modernise the legislative framework for doctors, as part of our professional regulation reform programme.

We anticipate being in a position to consult on this legislation, which will be made using the affirmative procedure under powers granted in Section 60 of the Health Act 1999, in late 2025.