§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria have been employed by family health services authorities in determining reductions in deprivation payments to general practitioners; how often such payments are reviewed; and what transitional arrangements have been put in place to prevent hardship. [37419]
§ Mr. MaloneFamily health services authorities do not have discretion in determining deprivation payments for general practitioners. Payments are made on the basis of the Jarman index and are reviewed annually in the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body round. We estimate that the use of the 1991 census data this year will deliver some £5 million extra to the profession as a whole. In addition some £3.7 million will be paid out in England to protect the income of individual GPs losing from the change.