§ 46. Mr. Pavittasked the Minister of Health if the rejection of the principle of a merit award for general practitioners revealed by the referendum conducted by the British Medical Association, details of which are in his possession, now closes his further consideration of such merit awards; what was the total sum designated for this purpose; if he now proposes to use this sum for the overall improvement of general practice; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI do not expect to receive the profession's formal views on advancement allowances until after their annual conferences have debated them. It is therefore too soon to reach a final decision on these allowances. The sum recommended by the Review Body, to be distributed by means of the allowances and in no other way, was £2.125 million.
§ Mr. PavittWill my right hon. Friend make it quite clear that he is not personally anxious to throw general practitioners overboard, and will he enter into negotiations to use the £2 million for ancillary help to taper off the work load of G.P.s?
§ Mr. RobinsonI can only repeat that the Review Body recommended that this sum should be distributed in this way, but in no other.