asked the Minister of Health whether, when giving his approval to schemes submitted to him under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, by local authorities for chiropody services in their areas, he will make it a condition of his approval that existing chiropodists' private surgeries shall not be excluded from such schemes, in so far as these relate to service to persons over 65 years of age and to expectant mothers, both of which services are free.

No, Sir; but most of the schemes approved provide for using the services of chiropodists in their own surgeries. There is power to charge in all cases.

Does my hon. Friend agree that the present system is inconvenient to beneficiaries who are not allowed free choice of practitioner and unjust to chiropodists who have to pay rates to the very authorities which are competing with them?

No, Sir, because there is still free choice for the patient and since, in the case of clinics provided by the local authorities, the local authorities meet the cost of the services, I think it right that they should have discretion in how they provide the services.

But is my hon. Friend aware that some local authorities base their chiropody services on their clinics to the exclusion of private practice and voluntary services, which is a cause of considerable concern to the Institute of Chiropodists? Will she consider issuing model schemes for the use of local authorities?

As I explained, it is for the local authorities to decide how they will operate the services. There is nothing to prevent their using chiropodists in their own clinics as distinct from using the chiropodists' own premises.

Does the hon. Lady agree that it is in the interests not only of this category of patients but in the interests of the Exchequer that this work should be conducted in the way that her Department thinks best?

I think it is appropriate that local authorities should decide how to look after the cases we have indicated as being in the priority classes, because they know the priorities—expectant mothers and old people.