§ Mr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the average annual income of a medical practitioner employed by the Benefits Agency Medical Services on(a) a full-time and (b) a part-time basis; and if he will make a statement; [4428]
(2) how many medical practitioners employed by the Benefits Agency Medical Services have voluntarily resigned from their posts in each of the past three years; what assessment he has made of the reasons for such resignations; and if he will make a statement; [4429]
(3) how many medical practitioners currently employed by the Benefits Agency Medical Services have worked on a sessional basis as members of disability appeals tribunals in (a) Strathclyde, (b) Scotland and (c) England and Wales in each of the past three years; of those employed how many work wholly or mainly on disability living allowance claims; and if she will make a statement. [4430]
§ Mr. FieldModernising the Social Security system is a key priority of the Government. We will streamline services to provide better, simpler more efficient services to clients. I wish no discourtesy to the hon. Gentleman but the administration of the Benefits Agency Medical Services is a matter for Peter Mathison, its Chief Executive. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Norman A. Godman, dated 25 June 1997:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about medical practitioners employed by the Benefits Agency Medical Services (BAMS).645WThe average annual income for a medical practitioner in full time employment with BAMS is currently £42,159. For medical practitioners in part-time employment, the figure is £26,767.The number of staff who have resigned during the past three years and the reason for their resignation is shown at Annex 1.
Annex 1: Number of BAMS medical practitioners who have resigned 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 Reason Number Reason Number Reason Number In wrong job 0 In wrong job 5 In wrong job 5 III health 3 Unhappy with management 1 Looking after relatives 1 Other 0 Other 3 Other 5 Not known1 1 Not known1 4 Not known1 13 Total 4 Total 13 Total 24 Figures are provisional and subject to change.
1 Indicates doctors who have chosen not to give their specific reasons.
Annex 2: the number of medical practitioners currently employed by BAMS, who have also worked on a sessional basis as members of Disability Appeal Tribunals (DATS) Location 1996–97 Strathclyde Nil Scotland Nil England and Wales 12 Figures are provisional and subject to change.
1These medical practitioners have not recently sat on DATs and neither works mainly on DLA claims.