§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the non-payment of fees due to consultants in respect of family planning services such as vasectomies and sterilisation.
§ Mr. EnnalsArea health authorities have been asked to introduce payments to hospital doctors undertaking family planning work as resources permit and after reaching agreement with the local consultants primarily concerned on the maximum number of remunerable cases to be undertaken by each. Until the scheme is introduced in a particular area no fees are due. About half of all area health authorities in England are already making payments, and I understand that in these no fees are outstanding apart from those which are the subject of current claims.