HC Deb 24 July 1979 vol 971 cc204-5W
Dr. Roger Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to allow the public and the press to attend meetings of the family practitioner committees.

Dr. Vaughan

Many family practitioner committees already admit the press and public to those parts of their meetings which do not deal with confidential matters relating to individual patients arid practitioners. I should like to see all family practitioner committees do so because I feel sure the sweeping away of unnecessary secrecy will improve relationships between the public and the National Health Service. I am sure this can most sensibly be achieved by local arrangement.