HC Deb 07 December 1982 vol 33 c447W
Mr. Foulkes

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total remuneration paid for each year since 1971.72, including estimated figures for 1982–83, to each of the following National Health Service contractors in England and Wales (a) doctors, (b) dentists, (c) chemists, (d) ophthalmic opticians and (e) dispensing opticians.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

The information on the gross fees and allowances paid to NHS contractors in England and Wales is as follows:

£ million
Opticians
Doctors Dentists Chemists *Sight Tests Dispensing
1971–72 173.2 107.9 55.3 9.9 5.7
1972–73 187.2 116.9 62.4 11.0 6.0
1973–74 202.2 129.3 68.1 11.5 6.3
1974–75 228.7 160.0 82.2 12.9 8.0
1975–76 304.5 210.4 105.7 27.0 15.6
1976–77 340.1 232.1 118.8 27.1 17.4
1977–78 360.4 241.6 131.5 27.5 16.09
1978–79 411.4 293.3 148.7 31.1 17.1
1979–80 506.8 354.0 158.1 36.8 17.9
1980–81 669.4 440.8 210.5 39.9 19.9
1981–82 767.5 505.0 251.2 53.0 25.8
1982–83** 841.1 558.3 269.8 63.1 38.9

* Includes fees for sight testing paid to ophthalmic medical practitioners.

Fees for dispensing paid to ophthalmic and dispensing opticians; no figures are readily available showing the apportionment between the two professions.

Provisional.

** Estimated.