NHS Pension Scheme

HC Deb 18 June 1998 vol 314 cc306-7W

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the exclusion of general practitioners' staff who are part of a co-operative from participating in the NHS Pension Scheme. [45755]

Mr. Milburn

The current extension of the National Health Service Pension Scheme, which has recently been agreed with the profession, is intended to include staff employed under a contract of employment by a general practitioner or practitioners. We have no plans to open the NHS Pension Scheme to staff who are not directly employed by GPs, including staff employed by GP co-operatives.