§ Mr. Hickmetasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 25 March, Official Report, column 97, from what other sources of public monies for which he has responsibility general practitioners received sums; if he has made any estimate or is proposing to make any estimate of the value of those sums to the average full-time general practitioner; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkePayments are made to general practitioners for the provision of medical advice and for expenses incurred. Our Department makes payments mainly in connection with social security benefits. Health authorities make payments for work done for the health and community health services. Health authorities or local authorities as appropriate make payments for assistance given to social services departments. Statistics do not normally identify such payments made to general practitioners and details of the payments are not available centrally. We have not made any estimate of the value of such payments to the average full-time general medical practitioner.
§ Mr. Hickmetasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many general practitioners operate within the National Health Service in England; how many operate on a part-time basis and how many on a full time basis; what was the average sum received by unrestricted general medical practitioners who operated full time for the provision of family practitioner services in 1983 and 1984, respectively; and if he will make a statement.
764W
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe number of unrestricted principals in England at 1 October 1984 was 23,642 (provisional). We do not make a breakdown between full time and part-time principals. So far as remuneration is concerned I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him on 25 March at column97. The average sums referred to in that Answer cover all unrestricted principals whether part-time or full time.