HC Deb 22 July 1993 vol 229 cc290-1W
Ms Primarolo

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the average earnings of(a) all general practitioners and (b) fund-holding general practitioners by the smallest geographical base for the most recent available period.

Mr. Sackville

Information about the geographical distribution of general practitioners' earnings or the earnings of general practitioner fund holders compared with non-fund holders is not available. The intended average net remuneration for an unrestricted principal providing general medical services in Great Britain in 1993–94 is £40,610. Payments for achieving higher levels of coverage for childhood immunisations and cervical screening and for administering the Hib meningitis vaccine are made in addition. The most recent information suggests these added an estimated £2,750 to the average general practitioner's remuneration in 1992–93.

Mr. Gunnell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many students gained their final qualifications to practise medicine in the United Kingdom in 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93; and how many of them entered general practice in the United Kingdom from each of those years.

Mr. Sackville

The available information is shown in the tables.

Mr. Sackville

The information for England is shown in the table.

Period Net ingredient cost (£'000s)
1st Quarter 1992 10.2
2nd Quarter 1992 10.3
3rd Quarter 1992 8.7
4th Quarter 1992 8.9
1st Quarter 1993 66.9

Note: The net ingredient cost is the basic cost of the drug before any discount and not including dispensing costs or fees. The data cover prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors and dentists. Dental practitioners providing general dental services in the national health service have, from 1 January 1993, been able to prescribe fluoride supplements under the national health service.