§ Mr. DicksTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recommendations the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body is planning to make on the fee scale for general medical practitioners in 1993–94; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyWhen my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister informed the chairman of the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body of its amended remit for the coming year, he invited the review body to make recommendations as normal on a fee scale for general medical practitioners that would make provision for their practice expenses and deliver the new intended average net income set by the Government's policy for public sector pay settlements for the coming year.
The review body expressed some reservations about what this might entail. There have been discussions between my officials, the profession, and the DDRB secretariat, to explore the review body's concerns and to see how far the two sides could offer evidence which might help. A good deal of common ground has emerged, but it is now clear that there remain some issues which it would be difficult for the review body to handle in current circumstances.
The Government have therefore concluded that the best course is not to refer these questions to the review body for the 1993–94 pay round. Instead, the Health Departments will pursue them directly with the profession, to a time scale which should allow further progress on the unresolved technical matters. My officials are in touch with the British Medical Association about the arrangements for these discussions.