§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's advice on the differential investment under the cost rent scheme for(a) health centres and (b) general practitioner practices; and if he will make a statement as to what plans he has to bring them both on to an equal footing.
§ Mr. DorrellThe purpose of the cost rent scheme is to offer financial assistance to GPs willing to invest in building new surgery premises or substantially altering existing premises to bring them up to an equivalent standard. Health centres are owned by health authorities who are responsible for their maintenance.
GPs occupy health centres under licence and it is a condition of their occupancy that they should not make structural alterations to the premises. The cost rent scheme does not therefore apply to GPs in health centres except that GPs who elect to buy the health centre from the health authority may be eligible for cost rent if the premises need substantial alteration.
In September 1990 regional health authorities became accountable for family health services authorities including the cash limited funds for cost rent schemes and responsibility for taking an integrated approach to improvements in facilities for primary health care.