To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to reform the regulation of the health visitor role undertaken by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

The review to reform the regulation of the health visiting profession is the responsibility of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

The NMC announced on 19 October 2011, that regulation of the health visitor role is to be positively reformed across the United Kingdom, as part of a programme of work emphasising the vital role of health visitors and other specialist community public health nurses. The NMC will build on much of the work that has been led by the four UK health departments, including the work of the Health Visitor Programme. The Department will contribute to the review. We are not aware of a date for which the review is scheduled for completion.