§ 47. Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish his proposals relating to the ownership of data held on computer by general practitioners.
§ Mr. FreemanWe plan to issue a health circular for consultation at the beginning of April.
§ 135. Mr. IrvineTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the recently announced scheme to provide reimbursement for computers in general practice.
§ Mr. FreemanI am pleased to tell my hon. Friends and hon. Members that the new direct reimbursement scheme which I announced in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hastings and Rye (Mr. Warren) on 28 November 1989, at columns228–31 will commence from 1 April 1990. From that date, general practitioners will be able to claim up to 50 per cent. direct reimbursement of the costs of purchasing, leasing, upgrading and maintenance of their computer systems, together with 70 per cent. of the initial costs of setting up the systems. These payments will be subject to upper limits based on a sliding scale according to practice list sizes and will take account of systems obtained in 1989–90. The balance of these costs will be reimbursed indirectly. An advance copy of an amendment to the statement of fees and allowances payable to general practitioners giving details of this scheme has been placed in the Library. Additional assistance will be announced shortly for GPs who choose to be fund holders to reflect their special computer needs.