§ 15. Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she is satisfied with the arrangements under which GPs in medical practices are paid.
§ Dr. OwenI have no major proposals for changes, but improvements in the arrangements are negotiated from time to time and priced by the Review Body. I shall be glad to consider any changes my hon. Friend has in mind.
§ Mr. WatkinsonIs it not the case that a general practitioner can run his practice with the aid of assistants and that these assistants are paid at present £6,000 a year while the general practitioner can receive £9,000 a year from the Family Practitioner Committee? Will the hon. Gentleman investigate this and take steps to prevent this profiteering?
§ Dr. OwenI will look into any individual cases. I think it is normally accepted that assistants are employed with a view to eventual partnership, and these should be training posts. In some cases the assistantship can become almost permanent, and then there is this development to which the hon. Gentleman referred, which is in some cases undesirable.