§ 68. Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will report on progress on the primary health care reforms as outlined in "Promoting Better Health."
§ Mr. MellorDiscussions are well advanced with representatives of the primary care professions on the implementation of measures to achieve the objectives of the White Paper, "Promoting Better Health" (Cm. 249). Some changes are currently being introduced. For example, dental practice advisers are being appointed and will take up posts early in the new year and extra funds have been made available in the present financial year for the training of family doctors' practice nurses. The Health and Medicines Act 1988, which received Royal Assent on 15 November this year, gives the Secretary of State powers to implement proposals in the White Paper for which powers did not already exist.