§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health w hen he next plans to meet the General Medical Services Committee to discuss changes to the new contract for general practitioners in the light of the completion of the general practitioners' referendum; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeAt their request I met the negotiators of the General Medical Services Committee on Monday 24 July. I made it clear that I would have preferred an agreed basis for the new contract and that I had all along made considerable efforts to achieve an 921W agreed solution. The discussions satisfied me that there was no sensible basis on which anyone could now reasonably expect to reopen the issues agreed with them on 4 May. I believe the contract agreed on 4 May to be in the best interests of all patients, as it will improve the standard of care they can expect to receive. I did agree, at the negotiators' request, to extend the deadline for the formal response to the draft regulations to 15 August. I have no present plans for another meeting.