Oral Answers to Questions

Craig Tracey Excerpts
Tuesday 20th March 2018

(6 years ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Steve Double Portrait Steve Double (St Austell and Newquay) (Con)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

16. What steps he is taking to increase the capacity and availability of GP services.

Craig Tracey Portrait Craig Tracey (North Warwickshire) (Con)
- Hansard - -

21. What steps he is taking to increase the capacity and availability of GP services.

Steve Brine Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Steve Brine)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

We of course recognise the shortages in general practice, which is why we remain committed to delivering an additional 5,000 doctors working in general practice by 2020 compared with 2015.

--- Later in debate ---
Craig Tracey Portrait Craig Tracey
- Hansard - -

It is great to see that record numbers of medical students are going into general practice this year, but far too many GPs are choosing to retire and leave the NHS when they are in their 50s because of tax penalties on their pension scheme. Does the Minister agree that we need to address that situation so that experienced GPs are not penalised for staying in the NHS?

Steve Brine Portrait Steve Brine
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

Along with concerns about workload and, for example, indemnities, pensions are an issue that older GPs often bring up with me. Ultimately, it is a matter for Her Majesty’s Treasury. My hon. Friend the Member for South West Bedfordshire (Andrew Selous) raised a similar issue at Prime Minister’s Question Time last week, and the Chancellor was on the Bench to hear it. I am sure he will read the report of these exchanges, too.