§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent changes there have been in the number of general medical practitioners in England and in the average number of patients on their lists.
NIL Alison: During the year ended 1st October, 1970, the number of doctors providing full general medical services in England increased by 198 to 19,099, the highest number since the National Health Service began. It is estimated that during the same period the average list decreased from 2,495 to about 2,480. This is the first decline for some years.