§ Angela SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce maximum working times for NHS consultants. [63258]
§ Mr. MilburnNational Health Service consultants, in common with all directly employed hospital staff with the exception of doctors in training, are subject to the Working Time Regulations. These regulations came into force on 1 October 1998 and implement European
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EU Member States Austria Stock exchange turnover tax at 0.15% or 2.5% depending on the type of company1 Belgium Stock exchange turnover tax—normal rate 0.17%2 Denmark Share transfer tax at 0.5%3 Finland Share transfer tax (only for non-Stock Exchange deals) at 1.6%4 France Stock exchange turnover tax at 0.3% on the fraction of each transaction under or equalling FFlm and at 0.15% on each fraction exceeding FFlm. An allowance of FF150 is applied to the tax due on each transaction and the tax due on each transaction may not exceed FF4,000. In addition registration duty at 4.8% on the sale of partnership shares in limited liability companies. The rate is 1% for founders' shares in corporations, subject to maximum tax of FF20,000 and exemption if there is no deed of transfer5 Germany No stamp duty on share transfers. Greece Stock exchange transfer tax at 0.3%6 Ireland Stamp duty on share transfers at 1%7 Italy Stock exchange turnover tax at 0.14%8 Luxembourg No stamp duty on share transfers. Community Directive 93/104/EC on the organisation of working time. They set a maximum working time limit of 48 hours a week. Under the terms of the regulations, however, doctors can volunteer on an individual basis to work longer than 48 hours.
The Health Departments have agreed some derogations with the British Medical Association, as allowed under the regulations. These allow doctors and their employers to organise service cover flexibly to comply with the basic 48 hour limit, thereby maintaining high quality patient care around the clock.
§ Angela SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce mechanisms for monitoring the amount of time consultants spend in private practice; and if he will review the current contracts between NHS trusts and NHS consultants. [63260]
§ Mr. MilburnNegotiations have began between officials and representatives of the British Medical Association on a new contract for consultants. We want to see robust arrangements in place to ensure that the undoubted energy and commitment of consultants is clearly focused on NHS service priorities and on improving the quality of patient care.
The vast majority of our consultants work hard for the NHS and more than fulfil their contractual commitments. We need a contract which ensures that their undoubted energies are focused clearly on delivering key service goals and priorities, providing patients with the high quality care that they need and expect, increasing productivity where it is needed most and cutting waiting lists.