§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason funding for the Wirral family practitioner committee has been cut by £400,000 in the current year; and if he will detail his estimate of the number of reception and support staff local general practitioners will cease to employ as a result of the new budget arrangements.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe preliminary allocation of £1,979,000 to Wirral family practitioner committee for practice staff and premises improvements this year is an increase of over 13 per cent. on its expenditure of £1,745,000 in 1989–90. We shall make any necessary adjustment to this record allocation when we know from family practitioner committees the full year cost of their commitments at the end of March. This will enable family practitioner committees to honour our undertaking to continue full support for existing practice staff.