§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many general practitioners contracted to work for the National Health Service are aged over 80 years; and if he considers that it is now appropriate to terminate such contracts at a specific age.
§ Mr. Barry JonesOn 1st October 1977, out of a total of 1,304 general medical practitioners providing general medical services in Wales as unrestricted principals, two were aged over 80. General practitioners work under contracts for services which do not include provision for termination on age grounds, although the arrangements do provide for appropriate action if a doctor becomes unable to carry out his obligations through disability. I have no proposals for changing these arrangements.