§ 3.51 p.m.
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, it might be convenient if I intervened for a moment at this stage to make a statement which was made by the Prime Minister in another place on the remuneration of doctors and dentists. For convenience, I will give it in the Prime Minister's own words:
" Before the Royal Commission was appointed, I explained that its appointment did not preclude an interim adjustment in advance of, and without prejudice to, its recommendations. An adjustment was made in the remuneration of junior hospital staff, both medical and dental, at the beginning of this month, when their remuneration was increased by 10 per cent. In announcing this increase I said that we were considering what should be done by way of an interim adjustment for the other doctors and dentists covered by the Commission's terms of reference.
" The Government have now decided to increase the basic remuneration of senior hospital medical and dental staff, including consultants arid specialists and all dentists engaged in general dental services, by 5 per cent. from the 1st May next, and from the same date to add 5 per cent. to the aggregate net remuneration of general practitioners—that is, remuneration after the deduction of practice expenses. We propose to consult representatives of the profession as to the best method of distributing this sum between individual practitioners.
" In the meantime, the Royal Commission have been asked to regard their work as a matter of urgency, and have in fact already, I understand, held six meetings. I hope that the letters I have exchanged with the then President of the Royal College of Physicians, together with the statement issued by the 24 Chairman of the Royal Commission, will reassure those who have expressed concern about the terms of reference. I hope now that all concerned will turn their thoughts to the task of working out a satisfactory basis for future remuneration, and for keeping it under review."
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Earl the Leader of the House for making that statement. There are some aspects of it which one can at once welcome—such as that the Government have now retreated from the original non possumus attitude that they took upon the matter some months ago. However, I should like to know exactly how the two interim rates of increase were arrived at: 10 per cent. in the case of one block, and 5 per cent. in the case of the other. Has this 5 per cent. interim payment already been agreed with the representatives of the profession? Is the consultation with the representatives to be only as to how the block amount is to be distributed? I think we ought to have a little more information on that matter, if it is possible. I am glad to know that the terms of reference are to be adjusted to meet the views which have been expressed both in your Lordships' House and in another place. When the noble Earl the Leader of the House has time, perhaps he could have a copy of the correspondence printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT, SO that we may have it before us.
LORD REAMy Lords, we on these Benches would like to endorse what the noble Viscount has just said. It seems to me that the Government are changing their point of view in a most favourable way, possibly using the Victorian example of Eric, or Little by Little, rather than agreeing on a final arrangement. To me the most important words in the noble Earl's statement were that the matter is being regarded "as a matter of urgency." I think we all welcome that, and wish the best of good luck to this Commission.
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, may I deal first with the last point made by the noble Viscount? I will see that copies of the correspondence are made available. I welcome the comments in regard to the extension of the terms of reference of the Royal Commission. On the matter regarding the 5 per cent., I 25 may say that that is, of course, a Government decision, and the consultation which will take place is as to the allocation to individuals of the 5 per cent. I hope that that point is now clear to the noble Viscount.