§ Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many health centres have been built in the Trent Regional Health Authority area over the past three years; how many 31W additional plans for such health centres have had to be cancelled because the general practitioners have refused or withdrawn their support; and if he will make a statement on what action he intends to take to ensure these health centres are built and brought into operation.
§ Mr. MoyleThirty health centres have been completed and starts made on a further 15. Two schemes have been abandoned because of withdrawal of support from medical practitioners. Regional health authorities are required to achieve a minimum level of capital expenditure on health centres and other capital schemes designed to improve primary care services, but a health centre can be established only where general medical practitioners are willing to use it as their main surgery.