Mr. Ted Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the Darlington community health council on the subject of allowing members of the community health council to attend meetings of the Durham family practitioner committee as observers; and what reply he has sent.
§ Mr. MoyleThe council wrote in October 1977 to say that the Durham family practitioner committee had refused to allow observers from the council to attend its meetings, and asked my right hon. Friend to obtain for them observer status at these meetings. The reply sent on behalf of my right hon. Friend conveyed our understanding of the council's concern, but explained that the arrangements for individual FPCs to decide for themselves were a reasonable and workable compromise, adopted because imposed arrangements would be harmful to relationships between CHCs and FPCs and thus to the service as a whole.
I am sure that admission of observers, subject to appropriate safeguards in respect of confidential matters, is in the best interests of the service, and I am closely 516W watching the progress being made by way of local arrangements.