7(1)If it appears to the Secretary of State that, by reason of special circumstances affecting the area of an Area Health Authority, it is appropriate that the Family Practitioner Committee established or to be established by the Authority should not be in accordance with the preceding paragraph, he may by order provide that that paragraph shall apply in relation to the Committee with such modifications as are specified in the order.
(2)It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State—
(a)before he makes an order in pursuance of the preceding sub-paragraph in respect of a Family Practitioner Committee which is already established to consult the Committee with respect to the order ; and
(b)in making any such order to have regard to the desirability of maintaining, so far as practicable, the same numerical proportion as between members falling to be appointed by different bodies in pursuance of the preceding paragraph apart from any modification.