HC Deb 26 October 1976 vol 918 cc135-6W
Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue an advice to all family practitioner committees that a complainant who has submitted a case shall be informed of the address of his community health council and that this body may be able to assist him in presenting his problem.

Mr. Moyle

No. As part of a general review of the service committee procedure my Department has recently invited all interested bodies, including family practitioner committees and community health councils, to comment on a paper summarising the various proposals for modification of the procedure which have been put forward from various quarters in recent years. Comments have specifically been invited on the question of assistance to and representation of parties at service committee hearings. I do not think it would be appropriate to issue advice on particular aspects of the procedure while this review is in progress.