HC Deb 13 April 1970 vol 799 cc1023-5
39. Mr. Brooks

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will introduce legislation to clarify the powers of his proposed area health authorities in the field of family planning; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Crossman

Family planning is one of the personal health services which it is intended will become the responsibility of the new area health authorities.

Mr. Brooks

In welcoming this step, may I ask my right hon. Friend to clarify whether he proposes to make this a mandatory duty of such authorities, with appropriate financial provision? How does he envisage the future rôle of the Family Planning Association in the new spectrum?

Mr. Crossman

I shall be discussing the future of the Family Planning Association with the association very soon. The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes".

Sir G. Nabarro

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the most valuable work in the family planning sphere, as I sought to demonstrate to him earlier by a reference to Worcester, where I am a vice-president of this organisation——

Hon. Members

Hear, hear.

Sir G. Nabarro

—is done by voluntary bodies, and that bureaucratic interference will not improve the quality of the service?

Mr. Crossman

I am afraid that that is not the view of the people in the Family Planning Association whom I have met and who are now asking for bureaucratic interference, by me.

40. Mr. Brooks

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will carry out an investigation into the private prescribing of contraceptive pills by general practitioners, with a view to taking steps to improve present procedures following the establishment of area health authorities with responsibility for family planning.

Mr. Crossman

Information about all forms of family planning, including the prescription of oral contraceptives by general practitioners, is already being sought as part of a comprehensive study being undertaken on my behalf by the Government Social Survey.

Mr. Brooks

Would my right hon. Friend agree that, in view of the importance of identifying women whose health might be at risk from the side-effects of a particular form of contraceptive treatment, the time is coming when encouragement might be given to the Royal College of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians, or even the General Medical Council, to produce an authoritative statement which would assist diagnosis and prescription, and help to dispel the clouds of misinformation which have recently descended upon general practitioners?

Mr. Crossman

That is another question, but I will discuss it with them.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

Since no one in this House would object to vigorous implementation of a policy of family planning, provided it is voluntary, why does the right hon. Gentleman not deal with these difficulties by exercising his mandatory powers?

Mr. Crossman

I have mandatory powers only for the Health Service, but this would be for the local authorities, and at present financial stringency makes it difficult for a local authority to expand rapidly in its case a brand new service without cutting back other services. This is why I thought it unreasonable for me to ask too much of them in a period of acute financial stringency, but now that period is changing attitudes can also change.