Professional bodies

The Privy Council is responsible for some of the affairs of the following statutory regulatory bodies:

• The General Medical Council
• The General Dental Council
• The General Osteopathic Council
• The General Optical Council
• The General Chiropractic Council
• The Architects Registration Board
• The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
• General Pharmaceutical Council
• The Health and Care Professions Council
• The Nursing and Midwifery Council

The role of the Privy Council involves such matters as the appointment of lay members to these bodies and the approval of rules. The Judicial Committee also has a role in relation to certain appeals against disciplinary procedures. The allocation of responsibility for these matters to the Privy Council rather than to the Secretary of State with the major policy interest builds in wider cross-Government participation. In this, as in other ways, the Privy Council is an important part of “joined-up Government”.