§ 66. Lord Balnielasked the Minister of Health whether he has yet concluded his preliminary discussions with the medical and dental professions; and if he is now in a position to make a statement on the Report of the Royal Commission on Medical and Dental Remuneration.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithYes. The Secretary of State for Scotland and I have informed representatives of the medical and dental professions that Her Majesty's Government are prepared to accept the Commission's recommendations as a whole as they stand provided that the doctors and dentists respectively for their part are ready to accept them on the same basis.
We have drawn attention to various matters which are an integral part of full acceptance of the recommendations, including the establishment of a Standing Body to keep medical and dental remuneration under review on the lines proposed by the Commission. For a number of reasons, however, it is not possible to adopt the Commission's proposal that the Inland Revenue should furnish the Review Body with comprehensive information about professional 84W earnings generally, but the Government are confident that the Review Body will be able to obtain the necessary information by other means, such as sample inquiries, and will of course be ready to give the Body any help to this end that lies within their power.
The preliminary discussions we have had with representatives of the professions have been helpful and we have been able to clarify a number of points. We have offered as the next step to arrange for the proposals to be worked out in detail jointly by officers of our Departments with representatives of the professions in order that as clear and comprehensive a picture as possible of their practical effect may be put before their members. We understand, however, that before this offer to engage in detailed discussions can be accepted it will need to be put to the professions through their appropriate channels. It is our hope that the professions will reach their decisions, and that discussions will begin, as soon as possible.
It is estimated that the extra annual cost falling upon the Exchequer if the proposals are agreed will be about £11½ million net. The extra cost which would fall in 1960–61 is, however, estimated at £41½ million net, because the payments recommended by the Commission in respect of earlier years would fall to be made in that year and because of other temporary features.