§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what action he proposes to take to ensure that family practitioner committees act on the advice contained in his circular CHC(FP)(77)21;
(2) how many family practitioner committees allow observers from community health councils to attend the whole of their meetings in pursuance of the advice contained in his circular CHC(FP)(77/2);
(3) If he will list in the Official Report the subjects normally discussed at meetings of family practitioner committees during which he feels it inappropriate that observers from community health councils should be present; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleI would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Lichfield and Tamworth (Mr. Grocott) on 14th December 1977.—[Vol. 941, c.231.] At a recent check there were 44 family practitioner committees in England—about half of the total—which invited community health council observers to their meetings, though none gave these observers an automatic right to attend the whole of 211W their meetings. Decisions as to the subjects of discussion from which such observers are excluded are a matter for local consideration. There are some matters relating to individual patients and practitioners which family practitioner committees generally regard as inappropriate for discussion with observers present.