HC Deb 10 May 1989 vol 152 cc443-4W
Mr. Hume

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement indicating the nature of any cash limits on the total expenditure on general practitioner trainers' allowances and trainees' remuneration, and the respective votes from which such funding is derived.

Mr. Needham

[holding answer 4 May 1989]: The funding of GP trainers' allowances and trainees' remuneration is contained in subhead BI of the Department's health and personal social services vote 1, which in turn forms part of the cash limit on Northern Ireland's departmental services (NID 1). However, the Secretary of State has flexibility to reallocate resources within the cash limit, for example, to cover unavoidable pressures in this sector.

Mr. Hume

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what weight is given to what factors in determining the number of general practitioner trainees who are to be remunerated by the Department of Health and Social Security in Northern Ireland in a given year.

Mr. Needham

[holding answer 4 May 1989]: The number of general practitioner trainees selected in Northern Ireland in a given year is determined by the estimated future demands of the Province for general practitioners.

Mr. Hume

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information is available to indicate the number of prospective general practitioner trainees who were recommended by the relevant selection body in the current year and the number which were approved by the Department; what factors determined the decision by the Department; and how selection of the numbers approved by the Department proceeds.

Mr Needham

[holding answer 4 May 1989]: Ninety-seven prospective trainees were interviewed by the selection panel this year and placed in order of merit. The Department determined that 50 doctors should be trained for general practice this year, but in the event 52 were accepted because a number were considered of equal merit by the selection panel. The number approved by the Department was determined by the estimated future demands of the Province for general practitioners. The procedures for selection of trainees are contained in circular HSS (TM) 3/80 supplement No. 1, copies of which have been placed in the Library.