§ Dr. Marekasked the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 16 February, Official Report, column 451, what are the reasons for the higher average figure of patients on general practitioners' lists in Rhyl compared with Clwyd; and whether he proposes to take any action to reduce the figure.
§ Mr. Mark RobinsonThe size of general medical practitioners' lists relate directly to the number of doctors available in the practice area. Relative to population there are fewer doctors in Rhyl than in the rest of Clwyd. General medical practitioners are independent business men contracted to the National Health Service. The control of the distribution of general medical practitioners in England and Wales is the responsibility of the medical practices committee — a body independent of Government. This control is exercised negatively, i.e. the medical practices committee cannot direct doctors to any particular area but it can tell them where they may not 847W practise. There is no mechanism available to Health Ministers to intervene. I am advised that, in respect of the Rhyl practice area, the medical practices committee would routinely approve applications for properly qualified doctors to be included in the medical list of Clwyd family practitioner committee.