§ Lord WarnerMy right honourable friend the Secretary or State for Health has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
I am responding on behalf of my right honourable friend the Prime Minister to the 34th report of the review body on doctors' and dentists' remuneration (DDRB) which is published today. Copies of the report are available in the Vote Office and the Library. I am grateful to the chairman and members of the review body for their hard work.
This year's report deals primarily with general dental practitioners, doctors and dentists in training, non-consultant career grade doctors, and medical and dental consultants who have chosen not to take up new contracts. For consultants taking up new contracts, general medical practitioners and the salaried primary dental care services, 2005–06 will be the third year of three-year pay deals agreed as part of NHS pay reforms.
The review body has recommended with effect from April 2005 general increases in remuneration of 3.0 per cent for doctors and dentists in training and consultants who remain on the old contract, 3.225 per cent for non-consultant career grade doctors and an increase of 3.4 per cent in gross fees for general dental practitioners.
83WSThese recommendations are bing accepted in full and without staging.