HC Deb 03 March 1978 vol 945 cc415-6W
Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total amount of public funds paid out in consultant merit awards; what is the distribution of the awards, both by region and to teaching as against non-teaching hospitals; what are the names of the recipients with their respective awards; and what are the criteria used in making the awards.

Mr. Moyle

Total expenditure on distinction awards in England and Wales is currently about £12 million a year. The detailed criteria used in making awards are a matter for the Advisory Committee on Distinction awards, under the Chairmanship of Sir Stanley Clayton, working within its general remit that awards are for professional distinction and, particularly at the lower levels of awards, outstanding service contributions to the NHS. The names of distinction award holders are not published at present, but I am discussing this and other aspects of the scheme with the representatives of the medical profession.

The tables below set out the distribution of distinction awards by NHS regions and between teaching and non-teaching authorities at 31st December 1976, the latest date for which comprehensive information is available.

DISTRIBUTION OF DISTINCTION AWARDS BY NHS REGIONS AT 31ST DECEMBER 1976—ENGLAND AND WALE
Region Percentage of consultants and community physicians in Region who hold an award
Northern 32.3
Yorkshire 32.0
Trent 32.5
EastAnglia 33.0
Wessex 30.5
Oxford 35.1
Southwestern 32.8
West Midlands 32.7
Mersey 33.2
North Western 31.2
Wales 32.1
All Thames Regions 31.0

DISTRIBUTION OF DISTINCTION AWARDS BETWEEN TEACHING AND NON-TEACHING EMPLOYING AUTHORITIES AT 31ST DECEMBER 1976—ENGLAND AND WALE
Type of Authority Holding Contract Percentage of consultants and community physicians employed who hold an award
Teaching 44.0
Non-teaching 27.1
Joint contract with Teaching and non-teaching 43.2