This book aims to provide an account of the range of work carried out by the Family Practitioner Committees, the bodies responsible, in England and Wales, for administering the contracts of general practitioners, dentists, opticians and pharmacists. This is the first comprehensive study of FPCs. It analyses the political environment in which they operate and illustrates many of the ways in which they can influence the provision of primary care. The authors conclude by suggesting an agenda for change and development.