§ Mr. GalbraithTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for programmes for Scotland for funds for the development of medical audit by general practitioners, money for pilot projects in areas of deprivation and local initiatives in the delivery of primary health care services to members of ethnic minority groups, along the lines of those announced for England.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythScottish arrangements for medical audit in general practice differ radically from those in England. In Scotland general practitioners and hospital doctors have equal access to a block of funds allocated to health boards for medical audit purposes, and to funding retained centrally for national projects.
251WBy October 1990 there were 33 audit projects in hand or planned in general practice in Scotland covering 11 health boards. The project list includes four joint projects with other specialties and one national project. The total recurring resources for medical audit allocated to boards for 1991–92 amount to £2.3 million, a 50 per cent. increase over 1990–91.
Developing audit in general practice is a high priority for the Government, and from July this year an audit adviser with a national remit for facilitating the implementation process will be funded from central resources. Audit activity in general practice is expected to increase significantly as a result.
With regard to money for pilot projects in areas of deprivation and local initiatives in the delivery of primary health care to members of ethnic minorities, it is not clear to which announcement or announcements this refers. If the hon. Member cares to provide clarification of this I would be happy to provide a further response.