§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for increasing the democratic answerability of the area health authorities, and particularly the family practitioner committees, in Wales.
§ Mr. Barry JonesFollowing consultations on the document "Making Welsh Health Authorities more Democratic" 341W which my right hon. and learned Friend issued in 1974, arrangements were made in the following year to appoint additional members to area health authorities on the nomination of district councils so that one-third of the members of each AHA are now drawn from local authorities. At 342W the same time, he decided that community health councils should be allowed to send one of their members to attend as an observer at AHA meetings. As for family practitioner committees, their duties and membership are prescribed by statute.