§ 15. Mr. Pavittasked the Minister of Health if any decision has yet been reached as to the disposal of £500,000 which, in accepting the recommendations of the Pilkington Committee, Her Majesty's Government agreed to devote to rewarding merit among general practitioners in the National Health Service.
§ Mr. PowellNo, Sir. The Joint Working Party on this has met once. A further meeting was postponed at the request of the profession.
§ Mr. PavittIs it not now apparent that the medical profession do not like this idea of singling out G.P.s to have extra money compared with their colleagues? Is this not a dead letter and, if it is a dead letter, are not the Government prepared to consider using the £½ million, which is not to be used for this purpose, in order to buttress the provision of orange juice and cod liver oil which is so urgently needed?
§ Mr. PowellThat is a hypothetical question.
§ Lord BalnielDid not the Royal Commission recommend that this £500,000 should revert to the Exchequer if it were not used for the general practitioners' merit award scheme?
§ Mr. PowellYes, Sir.