To ask the Secretary of State for Health what local leadership there was for the development of the proposals to establish new GP practices in Birmingham; and what the duration of each primary care trust consultation with (a) patients, (b) carers, (c) the public and (d) key partners was on (i) the principle and (ii) the practice of the establishment of new practices. (210262)

The three primary care trusts (PCTs) covering Birmingham (Heart of Birmingham PCT, Birmingham East and North PCT and South Birmingham PCT) have developed proposals to establish new general practitioner (GP) led health centres and additional GP practices to improve access to primary care services. These proposals are currently the subject of three separate public consultations, the last of which concludes on 24 August 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when primary care trusts in Birmingham were informed that they were to be allocated funding to establish new GP practices; and what assessment had been undertaken to assess (a) the need for new practices and (b) whether this was the best means of improving access to GP services. (210263)

The Department announced in December 2007 which primary care trusts would receive funding to establish new general practitioner (GP) practices. 100 new practices are being set up in the areas with the greatest need for additional GP practices. Primary care trusts in Birmingham are currently carrying out public consultation on where the six additional GP practices proposed for the city should be situated.