HC Deb 15 May 1989 vol 153 cc30-1W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the status of the Government's detailed proposals for changes to the general practitioners' terms of service and remunerations system in Scotland, in light of the agreement between the Secretary of State for Health and the British Medical Association announced on 5 May.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

The agreement announced on 5 May was the outcome of negotiations to which my right hon. and learned Friend was party. I have welcomed it as dealing with all the major outstanding issues on the basis of the proposals I made to Scottish doctors on 12 April.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the decision announced on 5 May by the Secretary of State for Health that rural practices would be taken out of negotiations with the British Medical Association and referred to the central advisory committee on rural practice payments supersedes the announcements on rural practices contained in the new contract document published by his Department.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

No. The central advisory committee's remit does not extend to Scotland. The Scottish rural practices fund committee has kept the equivalent Scottish scheme under regular review and that will continue to be the case. The new contract issued by the Scottish Home and Health Department makes it clear that the Government consider that payments from the fund are well targeted to meet the needs of rural doctors in Scotland.