§ Mr. Longdenasked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in devising a new method of payment of practice expenses of general medical practitioners.
§ Mr. BarberSince my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I invited representatives of the profession to join in discussions on this matter, the Health Departments have suggested to the profession schemes under which a substantial part of the individual doctor's expenditure on ancillary help could be paid directly to him and variations in out-goings on practice premises could be recognised. Their object has been to encourage provision of better facilities by providing for as much direct reimbursement as is possible without creating new inequities, undue complication or the need for more controls by the Health Departments over decisions by individual practitioners. Negotiations continue, but I regret that the General Medical Services Committee has circulated to the profession a report of the discussions held so far which I regard as quite misleading in a number of important particulars. I remain convinced that, with goodwill, a satisfactory solution can be found, and I shall shortly be meeting representatives of the Committee myself to discuss the matter.