§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will set up a joint working party with the British Medical Association in Scotland to review the impact of the new child immunisation targets in GP contracts on small rural practices; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will now consider allowing an element of discretion in the setting of immunisation targets for children in small practices which find it impossible to meet the current target levels in the new GP contract;
(3) how many representations he has received from small GP practices which are unable to reach 518W immunisation targets for children because of the small number of children suitable for vaccination in their patient lists.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 10 June 1991]: These matters are governed by the statement of fees and allowances, the terms of which are negotiated with the profession on a Great Britain basis. The health departments are at present reviewing a number of detailed aspects of the GP contract, in consultation with the profession, with the aim of improving still further the quality of general medical services. Against this background, I see no need for a joint working party on this specific issue.
My Department can trace only one such representation, made before the implementation of the new contract.