HC Deb 06 February 1967 vol 740 cc1102-3
51. Mr. Frank Taylor

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the facts that under his regulations after October, 1966, a medical practitioner, irrespective of his years of service as principal, loses all rights to seniority pay if he ceases to be a principal for upwards of three months and that this can operate unfairly against a medical practitioner serving a period of probation when changing his practice, whether he will take steps to correct this anomaly.

Mr. K. Robinson

I have agreed with representatives of the profession that we shall discuss this and other problems arising from the implementation of the new scheme of remuneration worked out in consultation with them, after some further experience of its operation.

Mr. Taylor

Would the Minister treat this as a matter of urgency? It operates most unfairly against practitioners of many years standing who may wish to take a holiday before resuming a new practice and who run the risk of losing all their rights of seniority by a three months' absence after 20 to 30 years in one practice.

Mr. Robinson

With respect to the hon. Gentleman, that is not the case. The present agreement already allows for an absence from practice, not limited to three months, for holidays, sick leave, study courses, hospital attachment, or any period of National Service.