§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total cost to the NHS, for each of the last five financial years of allowances to general practitioners for retraining courses.
§ Dr. MawhinneyExpenditure on the postgraduate education allowance for general practitioners, introduced in April 1990, has been:
£ million 1990–91 44.4 1991–92 47.6 1992–93 49.1 These sums were not identified separately within GPs' remuneration prior to 1990–91. Payments made through the more limited postgraduate training allowance scheme totalled £1.3 million in 1988–89 and £2.5 million in 1989–90.
§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement of the criteria to be satisfied by retraining courses in order for general practitioners to qualify for reimbursement of the costs of attending those courses; and what was the date on which current department guidelines were introduced.
§ Dr. MawhinneyCriteria for the approval of courses held in England which qualify for the postgraduate education allowance are not promulgated centrally. The responsibility for the accreditation of such courses is exercised centrally by the regional advisers in general practice.
§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of retraining courses undertaken by general practitioners for each of the last five years.
§ Dr. MawhinneyLocally based data are collected and held by the regional advisers in general practice.
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§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what data have been collected by her Department on the number of retraining courses for which general practitioners are entitled to be reimbursed.
§ Dr. MawhinneyNone. General practitioners are not reimbursed directly for attendance at training courses. GPs who maintain a balanced programme of education and training can claim the postgraduate education allowance. To qualify, GPs must attend an average of five days accredited training a year.