§ Mr. Parkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he fully accepts the recommendations of the Resource Allocation Working Party set up by his Department; and if he intends to apply them next year.
§ Mr. Tierneyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what plans he has for the health authority of the West Midlands region, a classified deprived region, to have extra resources
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§ Mr. Boscawenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is lost to the National Insurance Fund by raising the power earnings limit from Class I contributions from £13 to £15; and how many persons will be so excluded from contributing.
§ Mr. OrmeThe loss in contribution income to the National Insurance Fund in 1977–78 will be £8 million. It is not possible to give a very accurate estimate of the number of persons excluded from contributing by the raising of the lower earnings limit for Class I contributions from £13 to £15; but this figure assumes that on average throughout 1977–78, they will total about 130,000.
§ Mr. Boscawenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a table setting out the increases to the National Insurance Fund brought about separately by (a) raising the higher earnings limit from £95 to £105 per week of Class 1 contributions, (b) raising the Class 2 contribution for men, (c) raising to Class 2 contributions for women and (d) raising the lower and upper limits of profits for Class 4 contributions.
§ Mr. OrmeThe changes in the contribution income to the fund in 1977–78 resulting from the proposals to which the hon. Member refers are estimated to be:
to bring the region up to an average level;
(2) what is the amount of revenue budget for 1977–78 allocated to the West Midlands Regional Health Authority;
(3) if the Resources Allocation Working Party recommendations on new criteria for the distribution of money will apply to the West Midlands Regional Health Authority in 1977–78.
§ Mr. EnnalsBefore taking decisions on the future methods of allocating financial resources to health authorities in 607W England and on the allocations to regional health authorities for 1977–78 I need to consider the comments I am receiving from health authorities and other interested bodies which have been consulted about the recommendations in the recent report of the Resource Allocation Working Party. It remains my intention to secure a more equitable distribution of the financial resources between health authorities but, like the working party, I recognise that constraints on the resources available, and the need for careful planning to secure effective use of resources and, when necessary,
Year Senior Hospital Medical Staff Principals in General Medical Service Deaths Retirements Deaths Retirements 1971–72 … … … … … 48* 242* 136 288 1972–73 … … … … … 53* 277* 144 507 1973–74 … … … … … 41† 261† 141 466 1974–75 … … … … … 48‡ 246‡ 128 395 * Honorary and paid Consultants, Senior Registrars, Senior Hospital Medical Officers and Medical Assistants. † Paid Consultants only. ‡ Honorary and paid Consultants and Senior Registrars.
§ Mr. Michael Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many medical practitioners in England and Wales have emigrated: (a) to EEC countries and (b) to countries outside the EEC in each year since 1970.
§ Mr. MoyleInformation is not available in the form requested. Details of the migration of fully or provisionally registered civilian doctors to or from Great Britain are contained in the answer given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Gower (Mr. Davies) on 18th March 1976—[Vol. 907, c.629]. The numbers of such doctors migrating to or from countries which are currently in the EEC in 1970–71 and 1971–72 is shown below. Preliminary figures for more recent years are of much the same order.
Period (1st October to 30th September) Doctors born in United Kingdom or Irish Republic Doctors born overseas Outflow Inflow Outflow Inflow 1970–71 … 71 105 14 54 1971–72 … 67 143 15 41
§ Mr. Michael Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many immigrant medical practitioners have entered the service in England and Wales in each year since 1970.
§ Mr. MoyleThe table gives the number of doctor born outside the United608W rationalisation of services without putting important activities and institutions at risk, mean that redistribution must be a gradual process over a number of years.