§ Mr. ArbuthnotTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many non-fund-holding general practitioners are involved in the new national health service contracts for patient care in hospitals.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyContracts for health services provide the mechanism through which all NHS services will be secured in future. All GPs, of which over 23,000 are non-fundholding, are involved in contracts. District health authorities have consulted GPs extensively on their referral preferences. GPs have also been involved in considering quality improvements in services.