Family Practitioner Committees are required to provide statistics and returns to the DHSS. Among these returns are the annual programmes which form the basis of this study and which combine with five yearly profile and strategy statements , annual scrutinies and periodic performance reviews to fulfil FPCs' responsibility for accountability. This study undertook to do some preliminary analysis of the annual programmes for 1985-86 and 1986-87 of the FPCs of England. The following topics which FPCs had been asked to report in their programmes for 1985-86 and 1986-87 were selected for more detailed study: objectives and priorities for the FPC and family practitioner services; deputising services; promotion of good GP premises; collaboration with other administrative bodies; practices in relation to complaints.