Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of a) the vote by the BMA GP Committee in favour of the GP Committee for England to explore an alternative strategy for general practice; and b) their commitment to ballot their membership on this issue.

We recognise that the British Medical Association (BMA) may choose to ballot its members on a range of issues. Such ballots are a matter for the organisation and do not in themselves determine Government policy. The National Health Service, including general practice, will always remain free at the point of use.

We remain committed to working constructively with the general practice profession, including the General Practitioners’ Committee for England of the BMA, to ensure that general practice is sustainable and continues to deliver high-quality care for patients.