§ 65. Miss Boothroydasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from community health councils following the issue of Circular HC(FP)(77)2; and whether, in the interests of good local health authority 541W administration, he will introduce regulations requiring family practitioner committees to open their meetings to members of community health councils on a nonvoting basis.
§ Mr. MoyleWe have, to date, received representations from 19 community health councils out of a total of 208 following the issue of Circular HC(FP)(77)2. They refer to the failure of a number of individual family practitioner committees to invite observers from community health councils to speak at, or in some cases to attend, their meetings; and some of them urge me to give stronger support to participation by these observers. The circular was issued last September, and at present about half of all family practitioner committees invite such observers. I hope that within a reasonable time arrangements will be worked out in the remaining areas which will be satisfactory to both family practitioner committees and community health councils.