§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the sum estimated by the Review Body on Doctors' Remuneration as the element in the total in respect of night and weekend duties and his estimate of the annual sum on average paid by a general practitioner to a commercial deputising service and, where by partnership arrangements it is possible for a practice to contract out completely, he will now deduct from each doctor's pay cheque the difference between these two sums.
§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 8th November 1977; Vol. 938, c. 49], gave the following information:
I regret that information about payments to general practitioners is not available in the form requested, and I have no information on which to estimate the annual amount paid on average by general practitioners to deputising services. The amount paid by family practitioner committees to practitioners in 1976–77 for out-of-hours responsibilities was about £30.7 million, an average of about £1,280 per year per practitioner. I am writing to my hon. Friend about the general position.