§ 46. Mr. Pavittasked the Prime Minister if, in view of the negotiations with the medical profession following the publication of the Report of the Royal Commission on Dentists' and Doctors' Remuneration and the importance of the Government's decisions arising therefrom, he will enlarge the Cabinet by the inclusion of the Minister of Health.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI have been asked to reply.
The hon. Member would be wrong if he thought that, because my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Health is not a member of the Cabinet, the Government will give less than due attention to the questions raised by this Report.
§ Mr. PavittWill the Leader of the House use his very impressive pursuasive qualities on his right hon. Friend to urge him to take into consideration, not only the Government's position vis-à-vis the Minister, but, in view of these negotiations with the medical profession, the need for confidence on the other side in the negotiations if the outcome is to be satisfactory? The Report to be published next Thursday week may well set the pattern of the family doctor service for the next twenty years. The way in which previous negotiations were carried on destroyed the confidence of the medical profession. This single act perhaps would be sufficient to restore confidence in the Government.
§ Mr. ButlerThe hon. Member's Question will have done a service if it draws attention to the fact that the Government attach the greatest possible importance to this Commission and to the findings which we shall see on 18th February. I can assure the hon. Member and the House that this matter will be treated by the Government as one of the first importance.