After section 17P (as inserted by section 5 above) insert—

“17QAssistance and support

(1)

A Health Board may provide assistance and support to—

(a)

any person providing, or proposing to provide, primary medical services under a general medical services contract;

(b)

any person providing, or proposing to provide, such services in accordance with section 17C arrangements.

(2)

Assistance and support provided by a Health Board under subsection (1) is to be provided on such terms, including terms as to payment, as the Board think fit.

(3)

In this section, “assistance” includes financial assistance.”