This briefing paper critically reviews the proposals, assesses financial implication and highlights major omissions in the White Paper 'Promoting Better Health' : the Government's review of primary care services. It concludes that, despite welcome attention to issues of accountability and value for money, some basic questions remain unanswered : which agency is to take the lead in monitoring preventive services and in coordinating care for priority groups; boundaries of the process of privatisation of dental and optical services remain undefined; no specific mention of primary care authorities is made.