Except as provided in paragraph (2), a contract must provide for it to subsist until it is terminated in accordance with the terms of the contract or by virtue of the operation of any other legal provision.

The Board may enter into a temporary contract for a period not exceeding 12 months for the provision of services to the former patients of a contractor following the termination of that contractor’s contract.

Either party to a prospective contract to which paragraph (2) applies may, if it so desires, invite the Local Medical Committee (if any) for the area in which it is intended that primary medical services are to be provided by the prospective contractor, to participate in the negotiations intending to lead to such a contract.