§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he intends to administer the scheme for the provision of contraceptives under the National Health Service Reorganisation Bill through the agency of the Family Planning Association or directly with the London Rubber Company;
(2) to which company or companies he intends to give the contract for the supply of contraceptives as a result of his new provisions for family planning under the National Health Service Reorganisation Bill.
§ Sir K. JosephThe expanded family planning services will be administered by 431W the new area health authorities. Existing agency arrangements for the provision of clinic services by the Family Planning Association will be phased out over a period of two to three years from 1st April 1974 as these are transferred to the new authorities. My Department is having regular meetings with the Family Planning Association to plan this.
No agency arrangements are made at present with the London Rubber Company and none is envisaged.
The question of supply of contraceptives to the new services is under consideration by my Department and advice on this will be included in the guidance I will be issuing to the authorities later in the year.