§ 48 and 49. Mr. Maurice Macmillanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will make a statement on the future administrative structure of the National Health Service in the light of the recommendations of the Royal Commission of Local Government;
(2) when he expects to publish the second Green Paper on the administrative structure of the National Health Service.
§ Mr. CrossmanI have as yet nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Northants, South (Mr. Arthur Jones) on 16th June.—[Vol. 785, c. 19.]
§ Mr. MacmillanDoes the right hon. Gentleman not realise that he is giving the impression of having very little policy by realising his plans in such a piecemeal fashion? Can he not now give some date when he will be able to tell us his conclusions on the new Green Paper on the Seebohm Report and on the relations of the two to the Royal Commission's Report?
§ Mr. CrossmanThe hon. Gentleman will appreciate that the Government—this is a Government decision—cannot come to any conclusion on any of those matters until there has been consultation with a large number of authorities. The consultations are just starting. I would not be unhopeful, however, that in the autumn the first preliminary statement could be made.
§ Sir H. Legge-BourkeIn the light of this answer, would the right hon. Gentleman explain why local authorities are already being put under pressure to let the Government have their views of the Royal Commission's Report by October.
§ Mr. CrossmanFor the precise reason that if there is to be a preliminary statement of Government policy in the autumn, it is vital to have the preliminary views of the local authorities by October.
§ Mr. EnglishWill my right hon. Friend assure the House that in these consultations he will incline towards putting the Health Service under democratic control and not solely under the control of the medical profession?
§ Mr. CrossmanI think that I should be most unwise if I were tempted to indicate my personal inclinations in the matter.