HC Deb 03 June 1985 vol 80 cc93-5W
Mr. Weetch

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the names of the members of the Suffolk family practitioner committee giving their professional occupations and length of service on the committee.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The following members were appointed to the newly constituted Suffolk FPC on 1 April 1985. The dates in brackets are the dates of appointment to earlier committees.

Name Occupation
Mr. Arthur Nicholls Management consultant (1974)
(Chairman)
Mr. Joseph A. Bird Solicitor (1974)
Mr. Michael L. Butterworth General dental practitioner (1982)

Name Occupation
Mrs. Alison E. Child Housewife (1981)
Dr. Ronald Duncan General medical pratitioner (1983)
Dr. Thomas H. Fairbairn General medical practitioner (1960)
Mrs. Marion S. Fairman-Smith Organiser: Newmarket day centre
Mrs. Joan M. Gibbs Housewife
Dr. Brian M. Goss General medical practitioner
Mr. Canham J. J. Grayston Retired
Mr. Martin Holmes Farmer (1984)
Ms. Eileen M. Jacob Housewife
Mr. Adrian Kitchener Dispensing optician
Dr. Walter Marchall General medical practitioner (1973)
Dr. David S. Meldrum General medical practitioner (1974)
Councillor Sir MacDonald Retired (1982)
Miller of Glenlee (Bt)
Mr. Anthony S. Owen Solicitor
Mr. Forbes A. Powrie Pharmacist (1984)
Mr. Alfred W. Reeve Assistant director of social services
Mr. Peter I. M. Ross Ophthalmic optician (1971)
Dr. Kailash Sarda General medical practitioner (1983)
Mr. Arthur J. Skeels Artist
Mrs. Violet O. Smith Retired
Mr. John W. Taylor Pharmacist
Dr. Ian R. Wallace General medical practitioner (1975)
Mr. Wilfred Watkin General dental practitioner (retired)
(1957–72)
Mrs. Elizabeth M. Wiles Housewife
Mr. Kenneth V. Williams General dental practitioner (1974)

The places reserved for a nurse and for an ophthalmic medical practitioner and one of the generalist places are vacant at present.

Mr. Weetch

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has concluded his considerations relating to the possible changes in the procedure of family practitioner committees; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

We have introduced a number of procedural changes since the enactment of the Health and Social Security Act 1984. These are covered by:

Procedural considerations
FPC Accountability HC (FP) (84) 37
Financial information systems HC (FP) (84) 6
Financial directors HC (FP) (84) 9
Arrangements for personnel HC (FP) (85) 12
Annual accounts HC (FP) (85) 4
Internal audit HC (FP) (85) 6
Losses and special payments HC (FP) (85) 7
FPCs (Establishment) Order 1984 (SI HC (FP) (85) 1
1984 No. 1946)
FPCs Establishment Order 1985 (SI HC (FP) (85) 5
1985 No. 301)
FPCs (Consequential Modifications) HC (FP) (85) 2
Order 1985 (SI 1985 No. 39)
FPCs (Membership and Procedure) HC (FP) (85) 3
Regulations 1985 (SI 1985 No. 213)
FPC Accommodation and equipment HN (FP) (84) 38
Community Health Councils HC (85) 11
Regulations 1985 (SI 1985 No. 304)
Joint Consultative Committees Order HC (FP) (85) 8
1985 (SI 1985 No. 305)
Management arrangements for FPCs HC (FP) (85) 10

The framework for the new family practitioner committees is now established but I cannot say that procedural considerations are complete. They may need amendment from time to time to take account of reviews of FPC performance and of policy developments.

Mr. Weetch

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the family practitioner committees in England which regularly publish annual reports.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The following family practitioner committees regularly publish annual reports:

  • Avon
  • Birmingham
  • Bromley
  • Cambridgeshire
  • Cheshire
  • City and East Londonv
  • Croydon
  • Cumbria
  • Durham
  • East Sussex
  • Greenwich and Bexley
  • Hampshire
  • Hereford and Worcester
  • Hertfordshire
  • Kent
  • Kirklees
  • Lancashire
  • Leicestershire
  • Liverpool
  • Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth
  • Newcastle
  • Norfolk
  • North Yorkshire
  • Nottinghamshire
  • Oxford
  • St. Helens and Knowsley
  • Sandwell
  • Sheffield
  • Stockport
  • Suffolk
  • Tameside
  • Walsall
  • Warwickshire
  • West Sussex
  • Wolverhampton

In future, under arrangements introduced this year, all family practitioner committees will be required to identify their aims and policies and report annually on progress in achieving them. I expect a clear explanation of this information to be published by each FPC.