§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what comparison he made with pharmacists' remuneration in reaching his decision to increase the on-cost and professional fees of doctors in respect of dispensing by 7.8 per cent.;
(2) if he will intemise the on-cost factors and professional fees in respect of dispensing which led him to agree to an increase by 7.8 per cent. in average gross remuneration of doctors in 1982–83; and if he will break down the 7.8 per cent. so as to show the components of the percentage figure agreed to.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe Government are advised on the pay of general medical practitioners by the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration. This year the Government were unable to accept the review body's recommendation for intended average net remuneration for GMPs in 1982–83, of which its recommendation for an increase in average dispensing remuneration of 9.9 per cent. was a part. Consequently, the level of all fees and allowances recommended by the review body was abated, including the recommended increase in average dispensng remuneration, which was reduced to 7.8 per cent. The review body made no mention in its twelfth report of having made any comparison with the way pharmacists are paid in formulating its recommendation on dispensing. It indicated that its intention was to preserve the existing broad relationship between dispensing and other remuneration.