§ Mr. Arnoldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent representations he has received about the future role of family practitioner committees.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeOver 600 replies were received to a consultative paper "Arrangements for the administration of family practitioner services" issued in March 1981. 287W They revealed deeply held but divided views and, after careful consideration, my right hon. Friend decided that the balance of advantage lay in creating family practitioner committees as health authorities in their own right. My hon. Friend, the former Minister for Health, announced our decision to seek legislation to achieve this when an opportunity occurred, in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Dr. Mawhinney) on 17 November—[Vol. 10, c. 111–12]. Since then, a few bodies and individuals have continued to express their opposition to this decision, but the Government's intention remains unchanged.