§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes there have been between 1979 and the latest available year in(a) general practitioners' remuneration and (b) the number of practice staff employed by general practitioners.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyFrom 1 April 1990 the intended average net remuneration for general practitioners will be £33,280. On 1 January 1991 this figure will rise to £34,680. Payments for reaching preventive care targets for childhood immunisation and cervical screening will be made outside this average figure. These payments will amount to as much as £1,800 for childhood immunisation (children aged under two), and £2,280 for cervical screening, per annum. The corresponding level of remuneration in 1979 was £12,830. All these figures exclude practice expenses which are reimbursed to GPs.
The total number of practice staff qualifying for direct reimbursement under the ancillary staff scheme increased by 70 per cent. from 33,721 (20,121 whole-time equivalents) in 1979 to 57,410 (33,863 whole-time equivalents) in 1988.
§ Mrs. Maureen HicksTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list in theOfficial Report those areas in which general practitioners will be in receipt of the proposed deprivation allowance.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyI refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Ross, Cromarty and Skye (Mr. Kennedy) on 15 March 1990, at columns364-65.