§ 2.45 p.m.
Lord Winstanleys: My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the result of the discussions in early March (announced on 14th February (cols. 125–6)) between themselves and the General Medical Services Committee on the reimbursement to general practitioners of the salaries of their wives, where the wife is employed full-time in her husband's practice on duties which qualify for such reimbursement.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Lord Glenarthur)My Lords, the Department of Health and Social Security and the General Medical Services Committee have agreed that the related ancillary staff scheme should continue for a further year, until 31st March 1985.
Lord WinstanleyMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for the frankness of that Answer, which makes it clear that the Government intend to continue with this longstanding discriminatory practice. Will the noble Lord do what he can to persuade his right honourable friends the Secretary of State and the Minister for Health to meet some of these ladies, who I understand have formed themselves into an organisation? Will he also advise his right honourable friends that when they meet these ladies they will find that they are true professionals, highly trained and totally dedicated to the service of their husbands' patients? Is it not time that we did something to end this anomaly as to reimbursement for their duties?
§ Lord GlenarthurMy Lords, I am sure that what the noble Lord says about the dedication of these people is perfectly correct. I understand that the profession's representatives—and no doubt they could include the people to whom the noble Lord particularly refers—will be raising the matter shortly with officials. I cannot say whether it will be possible to make any improvement in the current arrangements, but at this stage I must say that I think it is fairly unlikely that, given the resources available and the competing demands upon them, that will be possible. However, I should not like the noble Lord to go away with the impression that the matter is entirely closed.