§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the Lord President of the Council whether he has any plans to provide a general practitioner service for hon. Members within the Palace of Westminster during sitting hours of the House.
§ Mr. MacGregorNo. During its recent consideration of the future development of the Members' medical surveillance scheme, and of related proposals being considered by the Administration Committee for the introduction of a comprehensive occupational health service for staff of the House, the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee made a number of recommendations for enhancing the medical adviser's role and extending the cover provided by the nursing sister. Those resolutions were agreed by the Services Committee and are published in its Minutes of Proceedings of 24 July. The question of a general medical practitioner was considered during the course of the Sub-Committee's deliberations but was rejected on the grounds that such a service would run counter to current established procedures and would therefore not be in the best interests of Members or staff.