§ Mr. GalbraithTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to announce which hospitals are to become independent hospital trusts.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythMy right hon. and learned Friend will consider each initial proposal carefully before deciding whether to seek a full application, and announcements will be made as decisions are taken.
§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money was raised in prescription charges in Scotland in each year from 1979–80 to 1987–88; and into what fund these receipts are paid.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe total amounts raised from prescription charges in Scotland were as follows:
281W
£ million 1979–80 4.247 1980–81 7.597 1981–82 9.879
£ million 1982–83 11.805 1983–84 12.798 1984–85 13.976 1985–86 15.313 1986–87 18.869 1987–88 17.233 The prescription charges collected in Scotland in the family practitioner services are credited to class XVI, vote 17, subheads A2 and AZ.
§ Mr. Bill WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of his latest negotiations with the British Medical Association with regard to general practitioner contracts in Scotland; and if he will publish the British Medical Association's latest letters on this matter.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 24 November 1989]: Formal negotiations with the British Medical Association on the new contract for general practitioners culminated in the agreement reached with the GMSC negotiators on 4 May. Since then, and despite the rejection of that agreement by a number of doctors, there has been extensive consultation with the British Medical Association, including the Scottish General Medical Services Committee, on the draft regulations, statement of fees and allowances and other matters relating to the implementation of the new contract. Within the terms of the 4 May agreement, I remain willing to consider any matters affecting the detailed implementation of the contract in Scotland which the SGMSC may wish to draw to my attention to take account of the particular circumstances of doctors in Scotland. These have been the subject of correspondence between me or officials and the British Medical Association. I have arranged for copies of the latest letters from the chariman of the Scottish General Medical Services Committee to be placed in the Library of the House.
South Africa Trade1 Percentage Shares by Partner Country United Kingdom Australia New Zealand Canada India 1984 7.4 0.9 0.1 0.9 NA 1985 8.3 0.8 0.1 0.8 NA 1986 7.5 0.7 0.1 1.1 NA 1987 7.1 0.6 0.1 0.6 NA 1988 7.4 0.4 0.1 0.5 NA 1exports plus imports not available Source: IMF Direction of Trade Statistics.