asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the services for which distinction awards are made to medical consultants; how many persons are in receipt of these awards annually; what they cost; how much individually can be received; and whether such awards are available to nursing staff.

The criteria used by the Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards in making recommendations for awards were set out by the immediate past chairman, Sir Stanley Clayton, in an article published in "Health Trends" (November 1979), copies of which are in the Library. They include direct service to patients or their general practitioners, improvement of the service, training and teaching, research, medical administration, and clinical or academic distinction. Hard work and outstanding service to the National Health Service may alone be sufficient reason for an award, particularly at the B and C grades of award.The present numbers and value of each grade of award is:

	Number	Value
		£
A+	162	24,930
A	602	19,200
B	1,649	10,970
C	3,792	4,890

These are in accordance with the recommendations of the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration as set out in its fifteenth report and accepted by the Government. We do not maintain records to show the amounts actually paid out in distinction awards since the award holder is paid pro rata to the amount of work he does for the National Health Service. The total amount authorised with effect from 1 April 1985 is £52,229,470 of which it is estimated that £43,350,460 is paid.Distinction awards are made only to consultants and community physicians in the National Health Service and are not available to nursing staff.