asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if patients who register with independent medical associates for private general practitioner services will need to transfer from the National Health Service doctor with whom they are registered at present; if drugs prescribed privately may be collected on a form FP10 signed by a National Health Service doctor; and if he will make a statement.

A patient who so registers may remain on the list of his NHS doctor. A doctor may prescribe on form FP10 only such drugs as he considers necessary for a patient he is treating under the NHS. He may not order on form FP10 drugs for a patient whom he is treating privately.