§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes to the funding arrangements(a) for health authorities in England and (b) for Buckinghamshire health authority he has made as a result of his decision that general practitioner practice staff should be eligible for membership of the NHS pension scheme; and if he will make a statement. [21337]
§ Mr. MaloneAn additional £65 million in general medical services cash-limited funds has been allocated to health authorities in 1997–98 to enable them to develop primary care through existing mechanisms and to take advantage of the additional flexibilities and initiatives in the White Paper "Delivering the Future". This includes814W the proposal to open up the NHS pension scheme to GP practice staff. All health authorities have received a minimum of 2 per cent. growth moneys.
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 13 March,Official Report, column 339, how many expressions of interest in the NHS pension scheme derived from (a) general practitioners and (b) their staff. [21357]
§ Mr. MaloneIn England, 1,116 practices and 6,564 practice staff responded to the staff interest survey carried out in 1994. Of those responding, over 80 per cent. of general practitioner practices indicated that they would allow all their staff to join the NHS pension scheme and 77 per cent. of staff indicated an interest in joining.