§ 27. Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set up an inquiry into the reasons for the continuing decline in the number of doctors in general practice in Scotland.
§ Mr. MillanNo, Sir.
§ Mr. Bruce-GardyneIs the hon. Gentleman afraid of such an inquiry, which would place a large burden of the responsibility on the Government's shoulders for the heavy burden of taxation on general practitioners and the position of the general practitioner service arising from the abolition of prescription charges? Is he aware that his right hon. Friend's statement that the trend would be reversed has been proved completely inaccurate and that the last quarter's figures were as bad as any under the present Government? What is he doing about it?
§ Mr. MillanI do not agree with the hon. Gentleman at all. The whole matter of recruitment to general practice has been exhaustively considered and has also been considered by the Review Body. The new system of remuneration now coming into operation will, we think, make a great improvement in the attractiveness of general practice. That is the 1405 information which we get from the medical profession itself, which has welcomed the new system.