§ 35. Mr. FallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how much was paid in merit awards to hospital consultants and dentists in the last financial year.
§ Mr. NewtonThe actual amounts paid out in distinction awards are not collected centrally since award holders are paid pro rata to their sessional commitments in the National Health Service. The value of awards recommen-ded by the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body for Great Britain was £56.8 million for the year ended 31 March 1987, of which is estimated that some £47 million was paid. These figures include awards made to community physicians as well as those to consultants.