§ 23. Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that the General Medical Services Committee, with which he negotiates for the pay and conditions of family doctors, retains its autonomy and is not taken over by the British Medical Association; if he will safeguard the trust funds amounting to £1 million subscribed by family doctors; and if he will state his policy with regard to future negotiations with general practitioners.
§ Sir K. JosephIt is the practice in the National Health Service for representation of staff interests to be settled by those interests themselves and I hope that this will continue. There is no change in my practice of conducting negotiations with the General Medical Services Committee in respect of all National Health Service general practitioners. I neither have nor seek to have any influence in the control of their trust funds.