§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) when he expects to complete his consultations with the various patient, disease and consumer associations on their place within the community health councils proposed in his Consultative Document; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will establish a study group to examine the effectiveness of the proposed community health councils, outlined in his Consultative Document, with special attention to the limits which would be imposed upon them by the management structure proposed in the same document.
§ Sir K. JosephAfter the issue of the Consultative Document on National Health Service Reorganisation, comments on the community health councils were received from a wide variety of interested organisations, and these are being studied. The councils are an integral part of my proposals for the management of the unified Health Service; I am confident that they will be able to do their job effectively, and it is unnecessary to set up a study group for the purpose suggested. A fuller statement on their composition, duties and powers will be set out in the White Paper to be published in the summer.