HC Deb 26 March 1974 vol 871 cc267-8
18. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals she has to introduce a free family planning service.

Mrs. Castle

I hope to make an announcement very shortly.

Mrs. Short

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that we await that announcement with great eagerness, especially as it was part of the policy on which we fought the last election?

Mrs. Castle

My hon. Friend is quite right; this was part of the policy on which we fought the last election, and I hope that I shall not have to keep her waiting too long.

Sir S. McAdden

In the interests of greater accuracy, would it not be better to call this a free contraception service rather than a family planning service, as it has only a remote connection with the planning of a family?

Mrs. Castle

I am sorry, but I could not for one moment accept what the hon. Gentleman said.

Dr. Winstanley

If the right hon. Lady cannot introduce a fully comprehensive family planning service on 1st April as many of us hope, will she at least consider authorising general practitioners to prescribe the contraceptive pill on form EC10 in cases in which there is no medical need for the prevention of contraception?

Mrs. Castle

I ask the hon. Gentleman to await the full statement that I intend to make as soon as possible.

Mr. Raison

Does the right hon. Lady accept that there are many people who feel that there are higher priorities for expenditure than this—for instance, on community care for the mentally sick and handicapped?

Mrs. Castle

That comment certainly surprises me, as I thought that it was my predecessor who was supposed to be introducing a comprehensive family planning service.