§ Mr. EtheringtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will list all(a) specialist medical and (b) general training courses by duration and numbers attending since January 1993 for experienced medical practitioners employed by the Benefits Agency medical services section which has responsibility for Northumberland and Tyne and Wear;
(2) if he will give the total number of experienced medical practitioners employed by the Benefits Agency medical services section which has responsibility for Northumberland and Tyne and Wear;
(3) if he will give the total budget by year since 1993 for training courses provided for experienced medical practitioners employed by the Benefits Agency medical services section which has responsibility for Northumberland and Tyne and Wear.
§ Mr. HagueThe administration of the Benefits Agency medical services is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Bill Etherington, dated 2 February 1995:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for the number of experienced medical practitioners employed by the Benefits Agency's Medical Services (BAMS) in Northumberland and Tyne and Wear. In addition, you require the total budget since 1993 for training courses in Northumberland and Tyne and Wear and a list of all courses for experienced medical practitioners attended since that date.There are ten medical advisers employed by the BAMS in the Northumberland and Tyne and Wear area. In addition, there are approximately one hundred and thirty six medical practitioners who undertake examinations in connection with a variety of benefits on a sessional basis. These medical practitioners are not employed by BAMS, but are paid a sessional fee for the work they undertake.
I have provided at Annex A information relating to budget figures for training courses in the Northumberland and Tyne and Wear area as requested.
At Annex B is information relating to the specialist medical training undertaken since January 1993 by the ten medical advisers employed by the BAMS in Northumberland and Tyne and Wear.
At Annex C I have provided details of general training courses attended.
I hope you find this reply helpful.
874W
Annex A Budget for BAMS' training courses in the Northumberland and Tyne and Wear area Locally held training budget £ Centrally held training budget1 £ 1993–94 1,500 200,000 1994–95 1,500 13,000,000 1 Of the centrally held training budget, approximately ten per cent. is spent in the North East, which includes the Northumberland and Tyne and Wear area. 2 The increase in the centrally held budget is due to an increase in training arising from the introduction of Incapacity Benefit.
Annex B Nature Duration Number of medical advisors Disability equality training 2 days 1 Occupational asthma 2 days 2 Continuing medical education 2 days 7 Chronic bronchitis and emphysema 3 days 9 Training in reading X-rays 1–2 times weekly for 4 months 9 Radiation protection course 1 day 1 GP refresher training 4 days 1 PD D4 symposium 1 day 2 Incapacity Benefit procedures 1 day 10 Incapacity Benefit training 5 days 7
Annex C Nature Duration Number of medical advisers Number of sessional doctors1 Total quality management 1 day 10 — Influencing through assertiveness 4 days 1 — Effective presentation 4 days 1 — Communication catalyses change 4 days 10 — How adults learn 2 days 1 — Potentially aggressive situations 1 day 10 — Potentially aggressive situations 2 hours — 76 Equal opportunities 1 day 10 76 Being a manager 2 days 4 — Recruitment/selection interviewing 3 days 3 — Stress management 2 days 1 — 1 The Potentially Aggressive Situations course and the Equal Opportunities course were also made available to doctors who undertake sessional work.