§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how much general practitioners in the United Kingdom have been overpaid under their last year's contract; what is the average overpayment per general practitioner; how much has been reclaimed; how much has been written off; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyI refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington South (Mr. Butler) on 7 November at columns259–60.
In 1990–91 estimated gross payments to GPs in Great Britain, under the terms of their contract, exceeded the intended level by approximately £178 million. The average overpayment per GP was £5,951.
As an interim measure, an amount of £7.5 million—£250 per GP—was reclaimed from GPs' remuneration in 1991–92, in accordance with the recommendations of the Doctors and Dentists Review Body in its 21st report.
The Government decided this autumn to waive recovery of £63 million of the overpayment, or £2,100 per GP, which was attributable to special factors unique to the first year of the new GP contract. Further decisions will be taken on the handling of the remaining sum in 1992, when we have further information.