National Health Service Consultants Mr. Bowden asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the amount and date of each salary increase asked for by National Health Service consultants and the amount finally agreed between 1948 and the date the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Pay became operational;(2) What was the date and amount of each increase for consultants recommended by the National Health Service Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Pay since its inception;(3) If she will list all the increases, dates and amounts awarded to National Health Service hospital consultants since 1948. Dr. Owen The rates of basic salaries and distinction awards for National Health Service hospital consultants, with effective dates and amounts in increase, have been as follows since 1948: --------------- | | | --------------- |1,700–2,750|…|5th July 1948|…|A|…|…| --------------- | | ||||||B|…|…||||| --------------- | | ||||||C|…|…||||| --------------- |2,100–3,100|…|1st April 1954|…|Minimum|…| --------------- | | |||Maximum|…||||||||| --------------- |2,205–3,255|…|1st April 1957|…|Minimum|…| --------------- | | |||Maximum|…||||||||| --------------- |2,293–3,385|…|1st January 1959|…|Minimum|…| --------------- | | |||Maximum|…||||||||| --------------- |2,550–3,900|…|1st January 1960|…|Minimum|…|…|A|…|…| --------------- | | |||Maximum|…|A|…|…|B|…|…| --------------- | | ||||||B|…|…|C|…|…| --------------- | | ||||||C|…|…||||| --------------- |2,910–4,445|…|1st April 1963|…|Minimum|…|…|…| --------------- | | |||Maximum|…|A|…|…|A|…|…| --------------- | | ||||||B|…|…|B|…|…| --------------- | | ||||||C|…|…|C|…|…| --------------- |3,200–4,885|…|1st October 1966|…|Minimum|…|…|…| --------------- | | |||Maximum|…|A|…|…|A|…|…| --------------- | | ||||||B|…|…|B|…|…| --------------- | | ||||||C|…|…|C|…|…| --------------- |3,470–5,275|…|1st January 1969|…|Minimum|…|…|…| --------------- | | |||Maximum|…|A|…|…|A|…|…| --------------- | | ||||||B|…|…|B|…|…| --------------- | | ||||||C|…|…|C|…|…| --------------- |4,512–6,330|…|1st April 1970|…|Minimum|…|…|…| --------------- | | |||Maximum|…|A|…|…|A|…|…| --------------- | | ||||||B|…|…|B|…|…| --------------- | | ||||||C|…|…|C|…|…| --------------- |4,512–6,840|…|1st April 1971|…|Minimum|…|…|…| --------------- | | |||Maximum|…|A|…|…|A|…|…| --------------- | | ||||||B|…|…|B|…|…| --------------- | | ||||||C|…|…|C|…|…| --------------- |4,836–7,350|…|1st April 1972|…|Minimum|…|…|…| --------------- | | |||Maximum|…|A|…|…|A|…|…| --------------- | | ||||||B|…|…|B|…|…| --------------- | | ||||||C|…|…|C|…|…| --------------- |5,085–7,599|…|1st April 1973|…|Minimum|…|…| --------------- | | |||Maximum|…|A|…|…||||| --------------- | | ||||||B|…|…||||| --------------- | | ||||||C|…|…||||| --------------- |5,433–7,947|…|1st April 1974|…|Minimum|…|…|…| --------------- | | |||Maximum|…|A|…|…|A|…|…| --------------- | | ||||||B|…|…|B|…|| --------------- | | ||||||C|…|…|C|…|…| --------------- The increase implemented with effect from 1st January 1960 was recommended by the Royal Commission on the Remuneration of Doctors and Dentists. The changes in rates in 1963 and subsequent years followed reviews by the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body. In all cases the Review Body's recommendations relating to consultants were implemented, except that in 1970 the increase for consultants recommended by the Review Body was, in common with the increases recommended for general medical and dental practitioners, implemented only in part. The reports of the Review Body have normally included a summary of the evidence given by the professions' representatives, but details of the claims made since 1948 by consultants' representatives are not readily available. Mr. Sydney Irving asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many dental consultants and orthodontists in the National Health Service had contracts allowing them to engage in private practice in each of the last five years; and how these figures relate to the total numbers of consultants. Dr. Owen I regret that information about numbers of consultants in dental surgery and orthodontics given in my answer to my right hon. Friend's Question on 5th December 1974—[Vol. 882,----------------------------------- |1969|…|All specialties: Total|…|…| ----------------------------------- | | |Dental surgery |…|…| ----------------------------------- | | |Orthodontics |…|…| ----------------------------------- |1970|…|All specialties: Total|…|…| ----------------------------------- | | |Dental surgery |…|…| ----------------------------------- | | |Orthodontics |…|…| ----------------------------------- |1971|…|All specialties: Total|…|…| ----------------------------------- | | |Dental surgery |…|…| ----------------------------------- | | |Orthodontics |…|…| ----------------------------------- |1972|…|All specialties: Total|…|…| ----------------------------------- | | |Dental surgery |…|…| ----------------------------------- | | |Orthodontics |…|…| ----------------------------------- |1973|…|All specialties: Total|…|…| ----------------------------------- | | |Dental surgery |…|…| ----------------------------------- | | |Orthodontics |…|…| ----------------------------------- Mr. David Mitchell asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients' appointments, both in- and out-patients, have been cancelled or postponed because of the consultants' work-to-contract, throughout the National Health Service and in Basingstoke, respectively; and what steps are being taken to alleviate this situation. Dr. Owen In Basingstoke during the first three weeks in January a total of 2,023 out-patient appointments were cancelled or postponed. In-patient admissions were reduced by just over 60 per cent. compared with a corresponding period in the previous quarter.National figures of this kind are not available centrally, though I am aware that reductions in non-emergency admissions and in out-patient clinics have occurred in varying degrees in many other areas as a result of the industrial action imposed by the consultants.On the course of the dispute I have at present nothing to add to the statement my right hon. Friend made on 28th January.—[Vol. 885; c. 188–90.]