Mary Henry (Independent)

I move amendment No. 35:

In page 50, line 35, after "profession" to insert "for a minimum period of three years full-time practice".

I am aware of the difficulties in dealing with existing practitioners. Grandfather or grandmother clauses are extremely important because we do not wish to see people who, because of the form of training they underwent in the past, are ruled out of practising in their profession. However, the Bill is rather loose in stating that an individual can be registered if he or she has been engaged in the practice of a profession at any time during a period of five years, ending on a relevant date. An individual should be engaged in his or her profession for a substantial amount of time in the previous five years, not just the occasional weekend, which section 90 could be construed as meaning. It is essential to have a minimum period and I have proposed three years, full-time, but I am not rigid on this. However, we need a better description than that contained in the Bill at present.