§ Mr. TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table showing for 1983, 1985, 1987 and 1989, the number of family practitioner comittee chairmen who were contractors, distinguishing between general practitioners, dentists, pharmacists and opticians.
§ Mr. MellorThe information for 1985, 1987 and 1989 is contained in the table. Before 1 April 1985 family practitioner committee chairmen were not appointed by the Secretary of State and the information requested is not available centrally.
1 April 1985 1 April 1987 1 April 1989 General Medical Practitioners 18 12 7 General Dental Practitioners 5 2 1 Ophthalmic Opticians 3 1 — Pharmacists 1 1 —
§ Mr. TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health under what powers he is allowing regional health authorities to implement the proposal contained in "Working for Patients" to replace family practitioner committee administrators with general managers or chief executives.
§ Mr. MellorWe have not asked regional health authorities to implement our intention that general managers should be appointed in all family practitioner committees, although we have asked them to provide a complete service to FPCs, through the personnel directorates, for the process of recruitment and appointment. The responsibility of shortlisting and selection falls to a panel led by the FPC chairman, subject to approval by the National Health Service management executive.