§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what representations he has received regarding manning levels for family practitioner committees; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what the staffing levels of family practitioner committees (a) were in 1983, (b) are now and (c) are forecast to be in 1991.
§ Mr. NewtonRepresentations have been received from time to time about resources made available to family practitioner committees for administrative expenditure, about three-quarters of which represents staff salaries. The allocations made for the current year, however, include an overall increase of about 5.5 per cent. in real terms.
The number of staff employed by family practitioner committees fell from 4,670 (whole-time equivalent) to 4,600 between 30 September 1983 and 30 September 1986, the latest date for which figures are available. This reduction includes some staff savings achieved as part of the programme of computerisation of patient registration data which was completed on 31 March 1988; further reductions on this account will be reflected in the figures for 1987 and 1988, when these become available.
377WNo forecasts have been made of future manning levels, but the White Paper on "Promoting Better Health" (Cm. 249), which was published last November, envisages an increased role for FPCs.
§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his Department has now received from all family practitioner committees their most recent annual programme and action plan; and what action he proposes to take.
§ Mr. NewtonAll but one family practitioner committee in England have submitted their current annual programmes during the last six months. Each programme is discussed with the FPC with a view to establishing an agreed action plan for which the committee will be held accountable.