asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that general practitioners are being approached by a political party to supply lists of elderly and frail patients for the purpose of registering postal votes; and if he will take steps to stop them supplying such lists.

I have no knowledge of this.

Perhaps I may enlighten the Minister. Has he seen the document published by the Conservative Central Office, entitled Post Votes, in which members of the party are invited to make contact with Conservative doctors and suggesting that they provide a list of elderly and frail patients? Does the Minister agree that it is proper that professional relationships within the Health Servive should be exploited for party political purposes in this way?

I had in fact no knowledge whatsoever of that particular document. Family doctors in the National Health Service are contracted to provide reasonable standards of medical care, but on ethical matters the medical profession, like any other profession, is self-governing. Any doctor approached in this way can decide for himself. I do not think it would be right for me either to compel or to forbid him to comply with any such request.

If I give the right hon. Gentleman a photostat copy of this document, will he use his influence with the Conservative Central Office and get it withdrawn forthwith?

I will certainly look into the case of that particular document. All I am saying is that I do not think it is right to bring forward to the House of Commons an amendment of the Regulations.

Is it not desirable that as many elderly and frail people as possible should be enabled to exercise their democratic right to vote at a General Election, without anybody wanting to put obstacles in their way?