§ Mr. Wallaceasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the cost of the pay increase for health service staff in Scotland will be met from the contingency reserve; what proportion of the cost this represents; and how that figure compares with the equivalent figure for England and Wales.
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§ Mr. John MacKayIn her statement on 23 April about pay increases for those covered by review body recommendations, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced that an extra £328 million would be provided from the reserve to assist health authorities to meet the cost of the awards. £36 million of this amount has been allocated for the NHS in Scotland, representing 51.5 per cent. of the estimated cost of the pay awards this year. The corresponding proportion for England and Wales is 54 per cent. The rest of the cost will be met largely from the increased allocation already issued to health boards for this financial year.
A further £68 million has been provided from the reserve for family practitioner service programmes, and the cost of the pay awards for general practitioners and dentists will be met in full from this enhanced provision.