CAB128-94_A1b — Page 39

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be more widely supported, the position of the union would be substantially weakened when the Dock Work Bill became law and the ports employers were free both to sack registered dock workers and to hire non-registered labour.

ONFIDENTIA

National Health Service

Reforms

Previous Reference

CC(89) 20.2

The

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HEALTH said that a special conference local medical committees of the British Medical Association in London the previous day had decided by a narrow ority to reject the terms of the new contract for General Practitioners (GPS) which he had negotiated with. BMA representatives. The vote reflected both organised opposition among some BMA members to any agreement with the Government and more widespread unease among GPS about the restraints which they feared the new contract would impose on their professional freedom. or bad the situation been helped by the lapse of time between the corusion of negotiations and the conference. General Medial services Committee of the BMA was expected later that day to a the special conference's proposal that all GPS should be called on the contract. The ballot result was likely in some

ks' time and would probably consist of a large majority again the contract. He expected to see the BMA's chief negotiato ter that day, but saw no advantage in reopening negotiation the terms of the proposed contract. The problem was primarse for the BMA leadership to resolve, who had proved unable toyer their members' support for the deal arrived at by the negotiators. The issue would eventually fall for decis y Parliament since the formal position was that the new contrees would be embodied in amended regulations which he would introd The regulations might not be ready for introduction before Parliamentary spillover, however, and there was advanta in allowing the present controversy to die down. So f there was no sign of the Government's Parliamentary supports becoming anxious on the issue, as they accepted that the Government had negotiated a sensible deal with the BMA leaders.

In discussion the following points were made:

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be said for playing the matter along. The

continued lobbying on behalf of the GPS, the as much to

a. Although on one view a quick resolution of the issue would avoid the Government's supporters be

exposed to

was between the BMA negotiators and their

There was some evidence of diminishing public come the GP contracts issue.

members.

about

b.

On the other hand, there was continuing public about the Government's wider proposed reforms National Health Service (NHS). There was a good deal of

5

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dispute

bout