§ 25. Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied that reasonable facilities exist to enable those doctors who have increased their experience by acting as assistants to general practitioners under the National Health Service Act to secure direct employment under the Act.
§ Mr. BevanI am not sure what my hon. Friend has in mind, but I think these doctors have reasonable opportunities for getting into general practice as principals under the Health Service.
§ 26. Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Health what proportion of the general practitioners who have accepted service under the National Health Service Act have assistants working with them; and how many of such assistants have become partners since 5th July, 1948.
§ Mr. BevanThe percentage at 1st January, 1950, was about 10 per cent.; so far as is known rather more than 300 assistants have become partners of their previous principals since 5th July, 1948.
§ Mr. HastingsDoes my right hon. Friend realise the extreme difficulties that young men have in starting in general practice today, and will he institute an inquiry into the matter to see whether something more cannot be done?
§ Mr. BevanMy hon. Friend is not quite correct in that statement. There are areas in the country which the Medical Practices Committee have declared to be available. Doctors can go there and, to use a colloquialism, 564 can squat; but they do not want to go to the undesirable areas, they want to go to particular areas.