asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will permit the villagers of Wembury, South Devon, to have a doctor resident in the village; and if she will make a statement.

The Medical Practices Committee, an independent statutory body, determines applications from family doctors to practise in the National Health Service. My right hon. Friend has no authority in the matter except that an unsuccessful applicant has a right of appeal to her.I understand that Wembury is part of an area which is considered by the Medical Practices Committee to have enough doctors, but the situation is being kept under review.The doctors who serve the area, like all other family doctors, are obliged under their terms of service to make domiciliary visits to those patients whose condition requires this.