§ Mr JanmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in developing a leadership role in prescribing for family practitioner committees, as announced in "Promoting Better Health"; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorEarly in 1989 we intend to launch a number of pilot projects designed to establish how family practitioner committees (FPCs) can most effectively discharge their new leadership role in promoting more effective and economic prescribing by general practitioners. Building on the experience gained in the pilot projects, we intend to issue guidance in about a year's time on best practice in this area for all FPCs to follow. To carry out this role—whether in the pilot projects in the first instance or more generally later—family practitioner committees will be given access to all levels of data from PACT, the new prescribing information system. A further important feature of the new arrangements will be the provision of FPCs of professional advice, independent of local GPs and their representative body the local medical committee, on interpretating the PACT data and on developing their activities in this field. FPCs will also wish to consult local medical committees who will have access to the PACT data about prescribing in their FPC area.