§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total annual cost of merit awards to National Health Service consultants; and what percentage are awarded to full-time National Health Service employees.
§ Mr. HayhoeThe actual amounts paid out in distinction awards are not collected centrally since the award holder is paid pro-rata to his sessional commitments to the National Health Service. The current value of awards recommended by the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body for Great Britain is £52.2 million, of which it is estimated that some £42.6 million will be paid. Of the 5,290 awards in payment in England and Wales at 31 December 1984, 36.3 percent. were held by whole-time, and a further 38 per cent. by maximum part-time, consultants. Exactly comparable information for Scotland is not readily available.