§ Mr. John Hallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of producing and distributing to the medical profession the quarterly magazine Health Trends; what is the purpose of this magazine; and what representations he has received from the medical profession regarding its value as an addition to existing publications.
§ Mr. CrossmanThe production cost of the first issue was £2,581, or just over 10d. a copy. Distribution was arranged through individual Health Service authorities and the cost is not readily ascertainable.
Health Trends replaced the Monthly Bulletin of the Ministry of Health, which was intended primarily for public health doctors. The purpose of the new publication is to help keep the medical profession in touch with new policy developments and to provide to members of the profession itself and others concerned an opportunity for contributing articles based on their own ideas and experiences. No official representations have been received from the medical profession about its value. There has been editorial comment in medical journals and some 50 letters mainly favourable have been received from individual doctors.