PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Health and Care Professions Council: Fees and Charges (26 June 2015)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of the Health and Care Professions Council's decision to increase the mandatory registration fee for care workers on recruitment and retention of highly motivated staff in that profession.

Asked by:
Mr Toby Perkins (Labour)

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) does not regulate care workers. The HCPC currently regulates arts therapists, biomedical scientists, chiropodists/podiatrists, clinical scientists, dietitians, hearing aid dispensers, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, orthoptists, paramedics, physiotherapists, practitioner psychologists, prosthetists/orthotists, radiographers, social workers in England and speech and language therapists.

It is for the council of the HCPC to set their fees at a level which ensures they can fulfil their statutory role of protecting, promoting and maintaining the health and safety of the public.

All health and care professional regulators review their fees on an on-going basis. We are not aware of any evidence to suggest that this increase of £10 per year will impact on recruitment and retention.

Answered by:
Ben Gummer (Conservative)
6 July 2015