HC Deb 19 February 1969 vol 778 cc459-60
31. Mr. Goodhew

asked the Secretary of State for Defence by what percentage the average earnings of general duty medical officers in the forces exceed the present average net earnings of general practitioners in the National Health Service.

Mr. Reynolds

The earnings of Service doctors vary according to rank and whether married or single. It is not possible to present a meaningful comparison by using averages. I will, however, with permission publish some sample figures relating to Service doctors in the OFFICIAL REPORT. As the hon. Member is aware, the pay of Service doctors is currently under review by the Prices and Incomes Board.

Mr. Goodhew

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that it was originally agreed that the pay of Service doctors should be 15 per cent. higher than that for National Health Service doctors to make up for their disrupted careers? Now that the latest award has been made to National Health Service doctors, is not the pay of Service doctors 34 per cent. behind instead of 15 per cent. in advance? What is the right hon. Gentleman to do to restore the shattered morale of this vital branch of the Services?

Mr. Reynolds

The hon. Gentleman's statement was not quite correct. The analogy was not with National Health Service doctors as such, which is an expression covering a very wide range of doctors, as the hon. Gentleman is aware, but with general practitioners. As has been explained to the House on many occasions, it has only been in recent weeks that one has been able to measure the net effect on the salaries of general practitioners of the award of a couple of years ago. As I have said, the matter is now with the Prices and Incomes Board from which the Government will receive a report in due course.

Following are the figures:

TABLE
AVERAGE EARNINGS OF A SERVICE GENERAL DUTY MEDICAL OFFICER OVER A 32-YEAR CAREER RETIRING AS (ARMY RANK)
Married Single
£ £
Colonel 3,624 p.a. 3,018 p.a.
Lt.-Colonel 3,490 p.a. 2,884 p.a.

The earnings include basic pay and ration allowance grossed for tax, plus marriage allowance in the case of married officers.