HC Deb 08 May 1973 vol 856 cc181-2
4. Sir G. Sinclair

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether an advertising campaign will be used to publicise the increased availability of family planning supplies from 1974.

Mr. Alison

As my right hon. Friend said in his statement to the House on 12th December, he will be making increased funds available for the purposes of education and training, and information of the public about the new service. —[Vol. 848, c. 234-40.] My Department will be in touch with the Health Education Council about an increase in its activity in this field, and the guidance which will be issued to area health authorities will cover the question of publicity at the local level.

Sir G. Sinclair

Is the Minister aware that, with the great increase in the services available under his proposals, it will be even more important than it has been in the past to use advertising as one of the means of spreading knowledge of the availability of these services, because wherever advertising has been used in conjunction with a free service we have achieved the maximum take-up by those least able to afford the full costs?

Mr. Alison

Yes, I take my hon. Friend's point. The take-up was significant in areas where no free services were supplied but where, on the contrary, a massive effort was made to increase the publicity for a charged service. I entirely share my hon. Friend's anxiety and determination that money should be well spent on increased advertising.

Mrs. Renée Short

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, if we are to get the greatest advantage from the increased propaganda for family planning which we all want to see, we need many more general practitioners and doctors generally to be qualified to teach birth control techniques? What is the Minister doing to ensure that all medical students are instructed in these techniques?

Mr. Alison

We have this under review. Even more important will be the negotiation, as part of their terms of service, with general practitioners about the possibility of becoming more actively and formally involved in the process of advising, prescribing, and, if necessary, treating in matters of family planning.