📝 Delegated Legislation Committee

General Committees

🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

The UK Parliament approved new regulations to extend the recognition of professional qualifications between the UK and Switzerland, ensuring Swiss professionals can work in the UK and vice versa from January 1, 2025. This move aims to prevent a disruption in professional mobility when the current agreement expires at the end of 2024. The regulations maintain the autonomy of professional regulators while fostering economic ties with Switzerland, the UK’s fourth-largest trading partner. The government is also exploring further mutual recognition agreements, including potential negotiations for a broader free trade agreement with Switzerland.

Summary

  • The UK Parliament discussed and approved the Draft Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Amendment) (Extension to Switzerland etc.) Regulations 2024.
  • These regulations implement an agreement signed in June 2023 between the UK and Switzerland about recognizing each other’s professional qualifications. This means that professionals from Switzerland can work in the UK, and UK professionals can work in Switzerland with fewer hurdles.
  • The regulations will start on January 1, 2025, smoothly transitioning from the existing UK-Switzerland citizens’ rights agreement which expires on December 31, 2024.
  • UK regulators are now legally required to recognize Swiss professional qualifications if they are comparable to UK standards. The regulations also detail how this recognition will happen and under what conditions it might be refused (e.g., inadequate language skills).
  • Specific provisions were made for lawyers (advocates, barristers, and solicitors) and new healthcare professions like anaesthesia associates and physician associates.
  • The regulations ensure that UK regulators maintain autonomy over setting and maintaining professional standards.
  • The move was supported across the political spectrum, with the opposition welcoming the continuation of a policy initiated under the previous government.
  • The Minister, Mr. Douglas Alexander, mentioned that the government is considering further extensions of mutual recognition to other sectors with Switzerland, and potentially with other countries like the United States.
  • The total trade between the UK and Switzerland is significant, valued at £46 billion in the recent four quarters of 2024.

Divisiveness

The session showed very little to no disagreement among the members of the Committee. The Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security, Mr Douglas Alexander, introduced the draft Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Amendment) (Extension to Switzerland etc.) Regulations 2024, detailing the purpose and structure of the regulations. Greg Smith from the opposition (Conservative Party) expressed support for the regulations, indicating that His Majesty’s loyal Opposition welcomed the update. He acknowledged the continuity from the previous government’s work and asked clarifying questions about future plans and the implementation timeline, but these questions did not suggest any opposition or disagreement with the proposed regulations. The Minister responded positively, addressing the questions and emphasizing the continuation of previous government policies. The session concluded with the Committee agreeing to the regulations without any recorded dissent or debate against the proposal.