HC Deb 06 November 1996 vol 284 cc553-4W
Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of doctors working at each Benefits Agency medical services centre in Scotland who are(a) full time BAMS staff, (b) current medical practitioners, (c) retired medical practitioners and (d) in other categories.[1348]

Mr. Andrew Mitchell

The administration of the Benefits Agency medical services is a matter for the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, Mr. Peter Mathison. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. George Foulkes, dated 5 November 1996: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will list the number of doctors working at each Benefit Agency Medical Services centre in Scotland who are (a) full time BAMS staff, (b) current medical practitioners, (c) retired medical practitioners and (d) in other categories. The information required concerning which sessional fee paid doctors are currently in practice and which are retired is not immediately available. However, BAMS is collecting this information, and I will write to you again when I have it. There are no other categories held. Such information as is available is contained in the table at appendix A. hope you find this reply helpful.

Appendix A: Doctors working in Scotland at each centre
Centre Full time BAMS Sessional fee paid
Glasgow/Shettleston/Cumbernaud 122 71
Ayr/Kilmarnock 0 8
Greenock 0 4
Motherwell/Hamilton 0 6
Edinburgh 20 30
Aberdeen 2 12
Inverness 2 5
Dundee 4 10
Figures are provisional and subject to change.
1 The Glasgow full time doctors cover a variety of areas.

Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total cost of the Benefits Agency medical services in Scotland and the United Kingdom, for the most recent available year. [1349]

Mr. Andrew Mitchell

The administration of the Benefits Agency medical services is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. George Foulkes, dated 5 November 1996: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what is the total cost of the Benefits Agency Medical Services (BAMS) in Scotland arid the United Kingdom for the most recent available year. The most recent year for which figures are available is April 1995 to March 1996. The running costs of BAMS for Scotland were £6,298,749. The total running cost for the United Kingdom was £58,413,659. The figures given exclude accommodation and utilities costs. The Budgets for these are not held by BAMS. The figures are provisional and subject to change. I hope you find this reply helpful.