§ Mr. David Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends making an order under section 22 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1972 to transfer the responsibility for the payment of those fees payable to doctors, already payable by health authorities in England and Wales, from Scottish local authorities to Scottish health boards.
§ Mr. FairgrieveMaking the NHS responsible for the payment of general practitioners' fees for certain services, such as the provision of medical certificates, associated with local authority schemes raises a number of issues which I am considering carefully. I shall be consulting the Convention of Scottish Local248W Authorities and shall write to the hon. Member when a decision has been reached.