§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in
328Wgoverning deputising are broadly similar to those in the 1936 regulations.
Deputising services have now become widespread, and about a third of all family doctors make some use of them. My right hon. Friend announced the introduction of a new code of practice in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Blyth (Mr. Ryman) on 10th April.—[Vol. 947, c. 279–80.] Many deputising services already operate to high standards, and I expect that co-operation by the services with the professional advisory committees which are being set up to monitor them will bring about the implementation by all these services of the general requirements of the code. If a particular deputising service fails to implement them, the family practitioner committee has the power to ensure compliance, if necessary by refusing consent to the use of that service.