§ Dr. Liam FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what would be the average gross earnings from the national health service of a dentist if her proposals on dental fees submitted to the dental rates study group are implemented.
§ Dr. MawhinneyWe estimate £89,300 per dentist.
§ Dr. Liam FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of dentists earned a gross income of over £100,000 in 1991–92.
§ Dr. MawhinneyIn 1991–92, 34.8 per cent. of dentists earned a gross NHS income of over £100,000.
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§ Dr. Liam FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will state, in the last three years for which data are available,(a) the actual level of dentists' expenses and (b) the figure allowed for by the dental rates study group.
§ Dr. MawhinneyIn 1987–88, 1988–89 and 1989–90, the last three years for which data are available, the dental rates study group forecast a level of practice expenses above the actual outturn by £1,851, or 5.5 per cent., £1,650, or 4.5 per cent., and £1,678, or 4.3 per cent. respectively.
§ Dr. Liam FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of expenses she has proposed to the dental rates study group for dentists in 1992–93; and what was the figure in 1991–92.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe sum of £47,228 per dentist, an increase of 11.6 per cent. over that allowed for in 1991–92.
§ Dr. Liam FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how average dentists' pay has changed since 1979.
§ Dr. MawhinneySince 1979–80, the target average net income of dentists has increased from £11,128 to £35,815 in the current year, a real terms increase of nearly 33 per cent. Our latest proposals are likely to exceed £35,815 by about £5,000, which would mean a real terms increase of about 51 per cent.
§ Dr. Liam FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the Doctors and Dentists Review Body recommendation for the increase in dentists' income in 1992–93 over 1991–92; and what were the corresponding awards to doctors and nurses.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe Doctors and Dentists Review Body's recommendation, which the Government accepted in full, increases dentists' pay for 1992–93 by 8.5 per cent. This is the biggest increase for any large group of NHS staff. Doctors—general medical practitioners—were awarded 5.5 per cent. and nurses and midwives 5.8 per cent.