HC Deb 07 July 1989 vol 156 cc329-30W
Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost of the proposed National Health Service indemnity insurance scheme.

Mr. Mellor

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Strathkelvin and Bearsden (Mr. Galbraith) on 25 May at column726.

Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the total cost of medical indemnity insurance in each of the last five years.

Mr. Mellor

Information is not available on the total cost of medical indemnity insurance, but the full medical rate of subscription to each of the London-based medical defence organisations has been as follows:

Year £
1985 288
1986 336
1987 576
1988 1,080

On I January 1989 the Medical Defence Union introduced its 1989 rate of £1,350. On 1 April the Medical Protection Society introduced an annual rate of £1,800 for doctors in certain hospital specialties but retained its 1988 level for the remainder. With effect from 1 July 1989 both organisations reduced the annual rate of GPs to £775.