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Policy responses and statements
- Name of organisation:
- Scottish Parliament:
Scotland Bill Committee
- Name of policy document:
- Consideration of the Scotland Bill 2010 and
Relevant Legislative Consent Memoranda: Call for Written Evidence
- Deadline for response:
- 14 January 2011
Background: The Scotland Bill, published on 30
November 2010, contains provisions which would reserve all of the regulation
of the healthcare professions to Westminster, as recommended in the
report of the Calman Commission. In its Legislative Consent Motion
(LCM) laid on 1st December the Scottish Government confirmed its opposition
to those provisions. A Scotland Bill Committee has been formed by the
Scottish Parliament to consider the Bill, and the Committee launched
this call for written evidence.
This College chose to respond to Question 10 and Question 11 of the
key questions listed in the call for evidence, as follows:
10. Additionally, do you have any specific views on the proposed changes
to speed limits, drink driving limits, air-weapons and other matters
(e.g. Scottish Crown Estate Commissioner, BBC Trust etc.)?
11. Do you have an opinion on the re-reserving of issues such as insolvency,
the regulation of health professions etc? Would the proposals be effective
in their intentions, what would be the consequences and could they
be adjusted to improve their effects?
SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT: SCOTLAND
BILL COMMITTEE
CONSIDERATION OF THE SCOTLAND BILL 2010 AND
RELEVANT LEGISLATIVE CONSENT MEMORANDA: CALL FOR WRITTEN EVIDENCE
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh is pleased to respond
to the call for evidence on the proposed changes to
devolved power in Scotland and has comments on 2 specific areas of
interest – drink drive levels and regulation of health care professionals.
Drink Drive Levels
- Additionally, do you have
any specific views on the proposed changes to speed limits, drink
driving limits, air-weapons and other matters (e.g. Scottish Crown
Estate Commissioner, BBC Trust etc.)?
The Scottish Government has shown great leadership on the public
health question of smoking in public places and clearly had an impact
on UK legislation by taking courageous steps towards a smoke-free
environment in Scotland. The College is in no doubt that this will bring
huge health benefits to the people of Scotland, and the evidence is
beginning to emerge of reduced morbidity since the smoking ban in public
places came into effect. Gaining the power to amend drink drive
limits has the potential to address mortality resulting from accidents
and add to the public health measures combating our culture of excessive
alcohol consumption. Further reductions in the permissible
level of alcohol while driving is controversial and not universally
popular but, once again, Scotland has the opportunity to exhibit
leadership if given the devolved power to act.
Regulation of Health Service Professionals
- Do you have an opinion on the
re-reserving of issues such as insolvency, the regulation of health
professions etc? Would the proposals be effective in their intentions,
what would be the consequences and could they be adjusted to improve
their effects?
The College has previously expressed its view that the regulation
of doctors should remain reserved. The College understands from
previous meetings of the Scotland Bill Committee that there may be
acceptance that the regulation of doctors and dentists should remain
reserved, but that other professions (including those not yet subject
to statutory regulation) could be devolved. Whilst content that the
regulation of doctors is intended to remain at a UK level, the College
believes that as healthcare professionals work closely in multi-disciplinary
teams it would seem logical to ensure that regulation is handled consistently. This
reflects the mobility of professionals and patients around the UK and
their expectations. All regulated healthcare professionals should
function to standards that are UK-wide and governed by a single UK
regulator.
Copies of this response are available from:
Lesley Lockhart,
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh,
9 Queen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1JQ.
Tel: 0131 225 7324 ext 608
Fax: 0131 220 3939
[11 January 2011]
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