HC Deb 26 June 1990 vol 175 cc174-5W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of general practices and general practitioners in each district health authority area within the Northern region; and what is the number of such general practices and general practitioners that have expressed an interest in becoming practice budget holders.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Information on numbers of general practices in each district health authority is not available centrally. The latest figures for the numbers of practices and general practitioners in Northern region by family practitioner committee are given in the table. A total of 65 practices in Northern region expressed their interest in the fund holding scheme and the regional health authority announced on 27 March 1990 that 31 practices which met the eligibility criteria will be undertaking the necessary preparatory work for the fund holding scheme.

Breakdown of the number of practices and unrestricted principals by

family practitioner committee in the Northern region as at 1 October

1987
Family practitioner committee Number of practices Number of general practitioners
Cleveland 83 273
Cumbria 100 269
Durham 83 289
Northumberland 50 165
Gateshead 34 109
Newcastle 50 156
North Tyneside 34 102
South Tyneside 31 79
Sunderland 53 142
518 1,584

Mr. Michael Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 1 May,Official Report, column 535, whether the discussions with Ordnance Survey concerning general practitioners' practice leaflets have yet been concluded.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Yes. A circular clarifying the position will be issued to all family practitioner committees shortly

Mr. Michael Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the necessary computer software packages for the management of general practitioner practice budgets will be available; and what Government subsidies will be paid to computer companies for the development of appropriate software packages.

Mr. Dorrell

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 25 June.