§ 34. Mr. Worsleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to publish a further Green Paper on the National Health Service.
§ Mr. CrossmanOn 11th February.
§ Mr. WorsleyDoes not the right hon. Gentleman agree that he has been even more dilatory in this matter? We are invited to legislate on the Seebohm Report with only tentative decisions on the Health Service, and this creates enormous difficulties.
§ Mr. CrossmanWe had better await the publication of the report on 11 th February, because it may contain not merely tentative but firm decisions.
§ Mr. BrooksWill my right hon. Friend recognise that there is some disappointment that the Government have accepted the views of the B.M.A. rather than the A.M.C. on the question of the democratic control of the hospital service? Will he explain why this has been done?
§ Mr. CrossmanWe had better await the publication of the Green Paper with white edges, which will be on Wednesday.
§ Lord BalnielDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree that my hon. Friend has raised a valid point? We are being asked to legislate on Seebohm while only a Green Paper for discussion is being introduced on the reconstruction of the Health Service. This is a very real point.
§ Mr. CrossmanI suggest that the hon. Member's curiosity will be satisfied when he reads the Paper in question. He will find that certain firm decisions are announced on the basis of certain proposals —which are for consultation—made for the reorganisation of the Health Service. There are two parts to the Paper—a part which gives firm Government decisions and a part which provides an area of consultation.