§ Mrs. Currieasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will show, for 1979 and for the most recent year available (i) the total number of general practitioner doctors under contract to the National Health Service, (ii) the average earnings of a general practitioner under contract to the National Health Service, (iii) the average list of patients served by such a general practitioner and (iv) the total cost to the National Health Service of general practitioner services in money and real terms.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe total number of general medical practitioners — unrestricted principals — in England was 21,357 in 1979 and 23,254 in 1983, the latest year for which figures are available. Average list sizes of patients per doctor were 2,286 in 1979 and 2,116 in 1983. The average intended net income for general medical practitioners in 1979–80 was £12,867, and in 1983–84 was £20,160 from 1 April 1983 and £20,670 from 1 January 1984. The total cost in England to the National Health Service of general medical services, including pharmaceutical services, net of charges was £1,219.6 million in 1979–80 and £2,183.0 million in 1983–84 — an increase of 23 per cent. in real terms.