HC Deb 17 January 1991 vol 183 cc583-4W
Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to using enumeration districts instead of wards when calculating the Jarman 8 index of deprivation to calculate additional payments to general practitioners in areas of deprivation.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Using enumeration districts instead of wards as the basis for calculating these payments has been suggested to us by general practitioners and others, but it would raise practical problems, for example of sample size, that would require careful consideration. Such a change would be made only if we could be satisfied that it would achieve better targeting of resources.

Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding the use of the Jarman 8 index of deprivation when calculating additional payments to general practitioners in areas of deprivation.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

We have received a number of letters on the use of the Jarman index from general practitioners, hon. Members and various interested groups. Although the representations welcome the introduction of deprivation payments they make a number of comments and criticisms which we are studying carefully.