HC Deb 25 May 1971 vol 818 cc205-6
3. Sir D. Walker-Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to ensure that there is adequate consultation with local health authorities to achieve harmonisation of proposals for the reform of the National Health Service with proposals for local government reform; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State for Social Services (Sir Keith Joseph)

I have sent copies of the consultative document "National Health Service Reorganisation" to the main local authority associations asking for their comments on my proposals. The document proposes a working party, representative of local government and other interests concerned, to study detailed arrangements for close co-ordination between the health services and related local authority services.

Sir D. Walker-Smith

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that that reply will give considerable satisfaction to enlightened and thoughtful local authorities like the Hertfordshire County Council? Does he also appreciate that there is a problem here of integrating the pattern of these two allied forms of legislation on the health side and the local government side so as to ensure that no step is taken under either head without full co-ordination with the requirements of the other?

Sir K. Joseph

There is no more important ingredient of the coming health service reorganisation than the closest collaboration, to which my right hon. and learned Friend rightly refers, between the new health authorities and the new local authorities.

Mr. Golding

Is the Minister aware that there is criticism concerning the circulation of the document, particularly in regard to numbers, and that some authorities have received only one copy of it and have had to resort to photocopying in order that the members may consider it? Is he aware that this is a very unsatisfactory procedure?

Sir K. Joseph

No. I was not aware of those matters. I will inquire into the situation. If the document has had to be photocopied, which I regret, it is at least a short document.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are certain proposals in the document which are disturbing to us on this side of the House, in particular the absence of any direct local representation at regional level, the absence of any clear statement about the future of the school medical service and the fact that general practitioners are to remain under a separate structure? In view of our concern on these points, could he make sure that the document is available to members of the general public as well as to local authorities, so that a major discussion can take place before he issues his White Paper?

Sir K. Joseph

Yes, Sir.