§ 36. Miss Herbisonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications were made by doctors in 1956 for loans to help to set up group practice; and how many were approved.
§ Mr. MaclayTwenty-four applications were considered in 1956 and ten were approved.
§ Miss HerbisonCan the right hon. Gentleman give any reason why fourteen were turned down, since the Government themselves seem to agree that group practice ought to be encouraged? Was it because only £12,000 has been allocated to Scotland for the setting up of group practices? If it is due to financial reasons, will the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the Secretary of State to have the sum increased so that we can have more group practices in Scotland?
§ Mr. MaclayThe number of loans approved is governed by the amount of money which the profession has agreed to set aside from the general remuneration pool. The amount for Scotland is £12,000 per annum, and the ten loans in 1956 took £11,700. I will take note of what the hon. Lady said in the latter part of her supplementary question.
§ Miss HerbisonIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the amount of money that was agreed might have been very much greater if the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State of the time had tried to honour decisions which had previously been reached?
§ Mr. MaclayI find it difficult to comment on something which happened at some time in the past.