§ 5. Dr. Edmund Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will introduce legislation to enable family practitioner committees to determine the locations of premises used by general practitioners and pharmacists within the National Health Service.
§ Dr. OwenI have no proposals to introduce such powers of direction over the independent contractors who provide family practitioner services.
§ Dr. MarshallMay I remind my hon. Friend of the need for a family doctor surgery on the Warwick Estate at Knottingley and for a pharmacy in Old Goole? Is it not clear that needs such as those would be more easily met if family practitioner committees had the power to determine the location of such premises?
§ Dr. OwenMy hon. Friend has taken a great interest in this, and I have had a meeting with him on the question of family practitioner services. I am looking into the question of the pharmaceutical services, but we must work in this area by persuasion.