asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assessment he has made of the implications of the new regulations on board and lodging accommoda-tion payments for the rights of supplementary benefit claimants living temporarily in such accommodation to register with general practitioners; and whether he has considered issuing instructions on this point to family practitioners’ committees.

No instructions are needed. The new regulations do not affect the existing arrangements under which a person temporarily resident in an area, who requires treatment, may call upon a doctor for emergency services or acceptance as a temporary resident and is entitled to be given any immediately necessary treatment.