HC Deb 05 November 1993 vol 231 cc586-7W
Mrs. Ray Michie

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what fee is paid by the Benefits Agency to medical practitioners as a sessional fee for providing information relating to benefits which require medical assessment; if he will give details of the fee paid to each practitioner; which fund the payments are from; if he will list the amount paid as the sessional fee for each of the last five years; if he will give details of the arrangements of the scheme and how the figure is calculated; what discussions his Department has had with the British Medical Association; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hague

The administration of the Benefits Agency is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

Letter from M. Bichard to Mrs Ray Michie, dated 4 November 1993: As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions raised about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security, asking what fee is paid by the Benefits Agency to medical practitioners as a sessional fee for providing information relating to benefits which require medical assessment; if he will give details of the fee paid to each practitioner; which fund the payments are from; if he will list the amount paid as the sessional fee for each of the last five years; if he will give details of the arrangements of the scheme and how the figure is calculated; what discussions his Department has had with the British Medical Association. Medical practitioners are employed on a sessional basis to provide examinations and assessments for claims of benefit under the Industrial Injuries (II) scheme and for claims for Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA). They also examine customers claiming Invalidity Benefit (IVB). The sessional fees are provided from the Administrative and Miscellaneous Services vote and are currently payable as follows:

Medical Boards (examining and assessing claims for II and SDA).
£
Chairman 88.40
Members 77.10
Single doctor acting as a board 88.40
Examining medical practitioner (EMP) (examining for IVB).
88.40

The seesional fees for each of the last five years are given in the attached annex. The arrangements of the scheme are such that the number of examinations undertaken in a session will depend on the nature and/or complexity of the cases and the number of customers who attend. For some time now, Treasury have been responsible for negotiating indicative fees for doctors undertaking work for Government Departments with the British Medical Association (BMA). Treasury consent to increases in fees, provided that any additioal costs can be contained within the Departments' cash and running cost limits. They are therefore indicative and not binding upon individual Government Departments and their Agencies. In previous years, the Treasury maximum for these fees was in the region of public sector pay increases. However, the maximum negotiated this year was well above public sector pay increases and therefore the Benefits Agency could not contain the increases within their cash and running cost limits and were, therefore, unable to implement the new rates. Representatives from the Benefits Agency Medical Services have met with the BMA's Private Practice and Professional Fees Committee to explain the Benefits Agency's position on the payment of fees. I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will be placed in the Library.

£
From 1 April 1988
Chairman and EMP 64.50
Members 56.40
Single doctor acting as a board 64.50
From 1 April 1989
Chairman and EMP 69.80
Members 61.00
Single doctor acting as a board 69.80
From 1 April 1990
Chairman and EMP 74.60
Members 65.20
Single doctor acting as a board 74.60
From 1 January 1991
Chairman and EMP 76.90
Members 66.70
Single doctor acting as a board 76.90
From 1 April 1991
Chairman and EMP 81.90
Members 71.60
Single doctor acting as a board 81.90
From 1 April 1992
Chairman and EMP 88.40
Members 77.10
Single doctor acting as a board 88.40