HC Deb 19 May 1994 vol 243 cc559-60W
Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was(a) the total number of general practitioners and the whole-time equivalent and (b) the total number of, and amounts paid to, general practitioners receiving deprivation payments in each of the low, medium and high categories for 1993–94; and what are the comparable figures in each case for fundholding general practitioners.

Dr. Mawhinney

In April 1993, the total number of general practitioners in England was 26,116 amounting to a whole-time equivalent of 25,231.

Of the 26,116 GPs, the following numbers received deprivation payments:

Low level 10,392
Medium level 6,430
High level 4,611

Note: A GP may receive deprivation payments at more than one level.

The amounts of deprivation payments made to general practitioners in England, in 1992–93, the last year for which figures are available, were:

Low level £14,846,862
Medium level £9,764,321
High level £8,496,343

Financial data on deprivation payments specifically made to fundholding general practitioners are not available.