HC Deb 01 April 1957 vol 568 cc33-4
56. Mr. Blenkinsop

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on the form of any interim award to general practitioners in the National Health Service pending the longer term review being undertaken by the Royal Commission.

The Prime Minister

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton) on 19th March.

Mr. Blenkinsop

While welcoming the answer from the Prime Minister to a Question which I put to the Minister of Health, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman would not now make some suggestion to clarify the statement which he himself made in his letter to the B.M.A.? Does he not realise that no one in the House supports the point of view expressed by the doctors, who so far are refusing to submit evidence to the Commission?

The Prime Minister

I am sorry if I have done wrong, but I was so moved by points raised by the hon. Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. S. Silverman) that I had this Question transferred to myself. I had intended to take this Question with Question No. 51, which the hon. Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton), although in his place, for some reason thought fit not to ask. For that reason, I thought it more convenient to answer the two Questions together as they are really the same Question. I can only say that I hope to make a statement shortly.