asked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to empower local authorities and hospital boards to appoint general practitioners to their service on a salaried basis.

These authorities are already able to appoint general practitioners to part-time salaried posts for their own services.

I appreciate that, but will my right hon. Friend consider—this was the implication of the Question—empowering local authorities and hospital authorities to appoint full-time general practitioners, particularly bearing in mind the growing and renewed interest in the establishment of health centre networks in various parts of the country?

Arrangements can already be made for general practitioners to work in close association with local health services through health centres, but if my hon. Friend has in mind the possibility of legislation empowering local authorities to provide general medical services, I must tell him that I do not think that this would be appropriate in the present circumstances.