The government has pushed through controversial plans to abolish the body that controls the distribution of GPs across the NHS, despite disapproval from opposition parties and GP leaders.

Labour MPs on the standing committee of the health and social care bill voted down a joint Liberal Democrat and Conservative attempt to reprieve the medical practices committee (MPC).

The MPC, a Department of Health committee, had lobbied hard against its abolition arguing that it would herald a chaotic, free-for-all approach to GP distribution.

But health minister John Denham said that removing the MPC and devolving responsibility for ensuring fair GP distribution to local health authorities would allow "under-doctored" areas in the north of England and in inner cities to benefit.

"Enabling development of resource allocation in the way that I have described will make it easier for areas that lack doctors to attract them," he said.

The debate occurred during the first meeting of the standing committee. The government is pressing ahead with a tight schedule to complete its proceedings by February 8 2001.