§ Mr. Grocottasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether her plans for greater democracy in the health service include the possibility of bringing area health authorities under democratic control by means of direct local elections.
§ Dr. OwenOur proposals published last May for making the health authorities more democratic were framed so that they could be implemented in the short term without fresh obligation. This precluded the possibility of direct elections to health authorities. We shall continue to keep the working of the service under review and will propose whatever changes seem desirable in the light of experience and of our aim of strengthening democratic control in the service.