§ Mr. Mayhewasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what degree of importance she attaches to the continuance in practice of general practitioners in rural areas; and if she will consider ways of providing them with remuneration and allowances that take account of the particular burdens placed on them.
§ Dr. OwenI attach equal importance to urban and rural practice. The scheme of remuneration, agreed with the profession, includes provisions to meet the special circumstancs of rural practice. For example, rural doctors are eligible for payments from the Rural Practices Fund as an addition to the fees and allowances payable to all doctors, and further additional payments can be made to doctors with essential practices in areas which are sparsely populated. The levels of these payments follow recommendations by the Dctors' and Dentists' Review Body, whose 1975 report provides for a 35 per cent. increase in the Rural Practices Fund.