§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 27 February,Official Report, column 463, if he will make a statement on the length of time his Department has taken to respond to the BMA's general medical services committee's letter dated 23 February 1994, and its reminders dated June 1984, August 1994, November 1994, December 1994, January 1995, April 1995, July 1995, September 1995 and December 1995, asking to see a redraft of his Department's guidance to health authorities on good practice in respect of the use of cash-limited funds. [24844]
§ Mr. MaloneThroughout the period covered by the general medical services committee's letters the use of cash- limited funds has been the subject of complex legal argument culminating in High Court action, Reginav. The Secretary of State for Health, ex parte Manchester Local Committee, heard on 27–28 March 1995.
Following the judgment, advice on the proper use of cash-limited funds was given to health authorities on 16 May 1995 and reiterated in subsequent allocation 487W letters. We shall be considering whether further guidance would be helpful to new health authorities on this issue and, if so, we shall consult GMSC on the content.
§ Dr. JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 27 February,Official Report, column 463, when the BMA's general medical services committee can expect a reply to its letter dated November 1991 in respect of considering the financial reimbursement for general practitioners who serve on, and give advice to, NHS purchasing authorities. [24843]
§ Mr. MaloneCorrespondence with the British Medical Association's general medical services committee on this issue has been on-going since November 1991.