§ LORD AUCKLANDasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will make an announcement about the latest recommendations of the Review Body on doctors' and dentists' remuneration.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY (LORD ABERDARE)The Review Body's third report, which recommends increases in the remuneration of doctors and dentists in the National Health Service, is published to-day as a Command Paper. Copies are available in the Printed Paper Office. The last increase in doctors' and dentists' remuneration was from April 1, 1972, and the report's recommendations, which Her Majesty's Government are satisfied are consistent with the Pay Code, are for new rates for the period April, 1973, to March, 1974. The increases would add about 4½ per cent. to the overall cost of net remuneration in 1972–73. Her Majesty's Government are most grateful to the noble Earl, Lord Halsbury, and his colleagues for their work in preparing the report and are ready to accept the recommendations.
496WAHer Majesty's Government have just received, and are considering separately supplementary recommendations on the salaries of doctors who will be filling posts in community medicine after Health Service reorganisation.