§ Mr. Austin-WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for health what representations she has received regarding the324W procedures for appointment of general practitioners to vacant practices; and if she will make a statement. [20535]
§ Mr. MaloneWe have received representations on various aspects of the general practitioner appointments procedures from both the profession and the national health service. In response to that, we amended regulations on 1 April 1994 to allow family health services authorities to readvertise vacancies up to three times where the aggregated number of applications was fewer than 20. We will continue to consider any further representations that are received.