§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the details of each directive relevant to his Department from the EEC since 1979; and what action he has taken in each case.
§ Mr. John Patten[pursuant to his reply, 2 May 1985, c. 237]: the following directives for which the Department has the primary responsibility have been adopted by the council since 1979.
general practitioners and family practitioner committees to enable general practitioners to improve their facilities and purchase or construct health centres; in whom the ownership of such health centres is vested; to whom the capital gains of such centres accrue; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke[pursuant to his reply, 16 May 1985, c. 221]: Under the improvement grant scheme doctors may receive a grant of one third of the cost to them of approved work aimed at the significant improvement of existing premises. In November 1983 an enhanced improvement grant scheme of three years duration was introduced in inner cities under which a grant may be given of 60 per cent. of the cost up to a maximum to doctors of the approved work.
General practitioners who purchase practice premises receive the equivalent of current market rent for the use 261W of their premises. Those who are willing to invest in new purpose-built premises or their equivalent may receive payments under the cost rent scheme which in most cases will cover the interest on the capital borrowed for the project and provide a return on the capital invested. Capital gains accrue to the owner of the premises.
District health authorities also provide practice accommodation for some general practitioners in health centres which the health authorities own and maintain.