§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the latest report of the doctors' and dentists' review body.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Eight Report of the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration covering doctors and dentists in the National Health Service is published today as Cmnd. 7176. Copies are available in the Vote Office. The Government thank all the members of the Review Body for their valuable report.
The Review Body has recommended increases in net pay from 1st April 1978 amounting to 10 per cent. of the total net earnings of all doctors and dentists in the NHS. These recommendations are consistent with pay policy.
The Review Body has also indicated fully up to date levels of remuneration which would bring doctors and dentists in the NHS back into an appropriate relationship with other professional groups as at 1st April 1978. These levels would involve a further substantial 501W increase, and the Review Body accepts that the economic situation may require the correction to be staged. It asks for a commitment by the Government to implement the fully up to date levels of remuneration—updated as necessary—not later than 1st April 1980 and for a move at least midway towards these levels not later than its 1979 review.
The Government accept the Review Body's recommendations. They are ready to implement from 1st April 1978 those recommendations within the pay policy, and to give the further increases by stages in accordance with the Review Body's recommendations.
I also welcome the Review Body's suggestions for settling the disagreement over dentists' expenses. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services will shortly be inviting the British Dental Association to discuss the matter.