Leader of the house, can I ask for a statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services concerning GP premises, please? As you'll be aware, GPs who are independent contractors in the traditional mould also own their own premises, and I well remember as young GPs, you are expected to take out what is effectively a second mortgage on a GP surgery at the same time as you are taking out a first mortgage on a family home.

Now, recently, I've received representations to the effect that, when you fast-forward 20 to 30 years, and GPs retire, or retire early, or move on, leaving the remaining GPs with a building that is often difficult to sell, with negative equity and early redemption penalties, huge financial losses can be incurred at this difficult time. And people wonder why GPs do not want to become independent contractors owning their own surgeries any more.

Now, the NHS in England has a compensation system for GPs in similar circumstances. GPs who have provided a lifetime of service to their communities face huge financial losses if they are the last ones standing in GP premises after the other partners have left. We don't expect hospital consultants to have an obligatory financial stake in your average district general hospital or tertiary specialist care centre, and I would value a statement from the Cabinet Secretary to clarify matters. Thank you very much.