§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to restore to family practitioner committees the right of executive councils controlling their own budgets in order to emphasise general practitioners' independent contractor status.
§ Dr. VaughanThe Government fully support the independent contractor status of general practitioners and have no plans to vary it.
My right hon. Friend has recently issued a consultative paper on arrangements for the administration of family practitioner services. The paper discusses a number of options for the future organisation of family practitioner committees, including the option of giving them full employing authority status such as the former executive councils enjoyed. We shall consider carefully views expressed on this and alternative ways of securing effective collaboration between family practitioner committees and the new district health authorities.