§ 53. Mr. Hal Millerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has yet reached a decision on which body consultants should contract with following reorganisation.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinAs I said in my statement to the House on 23 July—[Vol. 989 c. 506]—talks have been held between representatives of the doctors, my Department and the NHS on the future management of medical staff contracts with a view to seeking a way of reconciling my desire for more autonomy at the local level with the doctors' genuine concern that the benefits which have resulted from the existing arrangemens should not be lost. I believe, however, that it will be easier to make progress when decisions have been taken on the new district health authorities and their chairmen and members are appointed, and have therefore decided that further discussion should be postponed until later in the year.