HC Deb 05 August 1975 vol 897 cc184-5W
70. Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the fact that on form FPN 78 doctors and dentists are allowed to claim only 3.4p a mile for the use of their cars on duty when civil servants are able to claim more than twice as much, if she will take steps to bring the rates into line.

Mr. Meacher

Form FPN 78 concerns the allowance payable to general practitioner doctors and dentists when attending study courses. This allowance is equivalent to that normally paid to NHS staff, civil servants and other public service personnel who choose to travel to study courses by car instead of by public transport.

Mr. Spriggs

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will give details of the mileage allowance paid to district nurses for using their own cars whilst on duty at the latest convenient date in the St. Helens and Knowsley Area Health Authority District; and how this figure compares with the mileage allowance paid for the same purpose in 1972–73.

Mr. Meacher

Mileage allowances for staff in the National Health Service who use their private motor vehicles on official business are negotiated in the General Whitley Council and, subject to any protection of previous conditions for individuals transferred as the result of NHS reorganisation, apply throughout the country. Prior to NHS reorganisation the community nursing services were the responsibility of local authorities and both the Lancashire County Council and the St. Helens County Borough Council applied the mileage rates recommended by the National Joint Council for Administrative, Professional, Technical and Clerical Services.

Cars of 451–999 cc engine capacity Cars of 1000–1199 cc engine capacity Cars of1200–1699 cc engine capacity
Lump sum per annum £108 (£84)per mile £117 (£99)per mile £129 (£105) per mile
First 7,200 miles per annum 4.6p (3.1p) 5.2p (3.5p) 5.8p (3.9p)
After 7,200 miles per annum 3.1p (l.9p) 3.6p (2.1p) 4.0p (2.4p)

(b) Those transferred staff, principally part-time employees, who were classified as "casual users" by their former local authority employers, will be receiving the following rates. (Again, the figures in brackets show the 1972–73 rates for comparison purposes):

Cars of 451–999 cc engine capacity per mile Cars of 1000–1199 cc engine capacity per mile Cars of 1200–1699 cc engine capacity per mile
7.9p (5.7p) 8.7p (6.4p) 9.8p (7.0p)

(c) Staff who have been recruited since 1st April 1974, or who were transferred at that date but who have elected for NHS rates are being paid at the appropriate NHS Whitley "standard" rates—which do not provide for a lump sum annual payment in addition—and which are operative from 1st April 1975. These rates are as follows:

Cars of 501–1000 cc (including the Fiat 500 car) per mile Cars of 1001–1750 cc engine capacity per mile Cars of over 1750 cc engine capacity per mile
7.9p 9.4p 10.2p

Cars of 501–1000 cc engine capacity (but including Fiat 500) Cars of 1001–1500 cc engine capacity Cars over 1500 cc engine capacity
Lump sum per annum £123 per mile £159 per mile £177 per mile
First 5,500 miles per annum 5.4p 6.5p 6.9p
After 5,500 miles per annum 3.6p 4.5p 5.3p