HC Deb 18 June 1991 vol 193 cc150-1W
Mr. Benyon

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the consultant merit awards count towards the level of final superannuation for the consultant concerned.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Yes, since they form part of a consultant's total salary.

Mr. Benyon

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average age of the recipients of merit awards for consultants in 1989–90.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The distinction awards system operates on a calendar year and the average age of recipients for the various grades of awards granted in the year ended 31 December 1990 were:

A+ 57
A 55
B 51
C 47

Mr. Benyon

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of consultants' merit awards was for the years 1979–80 and 1989–90.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The actual amounts paid out for distinction awards are not collected centrally. Award holders are paid pro rata to their sessional commitments to the NHS. Take-up is estimated to be 88.14 per cent. of the total amount authorised by the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration.

For England and Wales the estimated payments in the years concerned were:

Authorised by DDRB £ Estimated paid £
1979–80 19,991,000 17,621,000
1989–90 69,075,760 60,883,000