§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has as to the likely change in the level of rural general practitioner's remuneration as a result of the introduction of the new contract for general practitioners.
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§ Mr. GristThe Government's proposals for linking family doctors' pay more closely to the range and quality of their resources to patients are set out in the report "General Practice in the National Health Service—A New Contract", and appendix F provides illustrative assessments of the effects on different types of practice. The implications for rural practice are fully considered in that report, copies of which were sent to all GMPs. The proposals include a rural areas supplement to the basic practice allowance which is designed to recognise the particular nature of practice in sparsely populated rural areas and to ensure that GMPs practising in such areas are not unduly disadvantaged by the nature of the area in which they work.