§ Mr. HigginsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on the number of general practitioners in the area covered by the Worthing district 215W health authority in 1979 and the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will estimate the corresponding increase or decrease in costs.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe information requested is collected from family practitioner committees which are not necessarily conterminous with health authority boundaries. The number of unrestricted general medical practitioners in the area covered by west Sussex family practitioner committee (which includes Worthing DHA) has risen from 294 at 1 October 1979 to 360 as at 1 October 1986, the latest date for which figures are available. Information about the corresponding change in costs is not available centrally.