HC Deb 13 January 1977 vol 923 cc588-9W
Mr. Shersby

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will extend from eight to 12 weeks the time during which complaints may be made to family practitioner committees.

Mr. Moyle

Complaints against family practitioners are considered under the services committee procedure. As part of a general review of this procedure, my Department has recently invited all interested bodies to comment on a paper summarising the various proposals for modification of the procedure which have have been put forward in recent years. Amongst the aspects of the procedure on which comments have been invited is the question of the time limits for the submission of complaints. I do not think it would be appropriate to seek to change the existing rules about this while the review is in progress.