§ Mr. WarrenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the reasons for the differences between the allocations to the family practitioner committees in east and west Sussex; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonResources available to individual family practitioner committees were the subject of local negotiation with health authorities when, in 1985, family practitioner committees became independent of health authorities. It is widely recognised that this led to some inequities. For this reason, the Department, in a phased programme, has sought to redistribute resources in a more objective way based on criteria relating to major aspects affecting workload. Under this process east Sussex family practitioner committee has gained this year a higher proportion of the total available resources both absolutely and relative to west Sussex family practitioner committee. No final decisions have yet been made about allocations for 1988–89.