§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what criteria he has laid down for the authorisation of expenditure by relevant local authorities on establishing and running local health centres for general practitioners and their patients.
§ Sir K. JosephThe essential prerequisite to the establishment of a health centre is the agreement of local family practitioners to participate in its operation. Then, under present arrangements, local health authorities proposing to finance the construction of a health centre by raising a loan require the prior consent of my Department. The cost of building each centre is approved individually having regard to the extent of the facilities proposed to be provided. The running costs of a health centre are a matter for the local health authority in consultation with the executive council and the practitioners concerned.