§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans for the privatisation or partial privatisation of the General Practice Finance Corporation.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe have no plans at present to change the status or classification as a public corporation of the General Practice Finance Corporation. However, following the reclassification of General Practice Finance Corporation borrowing in 1984 the corporation itself has been examining ways by which the demands for loans could be met without adding to public expenditure.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the names and occupations of the current chairman and vice-chairman of the General Practice Finance Corporation.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe chairman of the General Practice Finance Corporation is Mr. David Stebbings, a retired solicitor. The deputy chairman is Mr. Derek Hughes, managing director of the merchant bank, Samuel Montagu and Company Limited.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the General Practice Finance Corporation's budget for the current year; what is the estimated budget for the following year; and what was the budget for 1984–85.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe General Practice Finance Corporation receives no direct financial support from the Government. However, its borrowing to finance loans to general practioners is guaranteed by the Exchequer and is subject to Government control. The corporation's net borrowing in 1984–85 was £23.25 million compared with £3.5 million in 1982–83 and £12.5 million in 1983–84. Its borrowing for 1985–86 is fixed at £22.5 million. The provisional planning assumption for 1986–87 is £26.7 million.