Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, in what circumstances General Medical Services contracts are used by NHS England; and how many such contracts were used in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) 2014.

General Medical Services (GMS) contracts are used in circumstances where at least one contractor is to be a General Medical Practitioner - there is provision for others to be partners in GMS contracts such as a National Health Service employee or a health care professional, providing services under the NHS Act 2006, but at least one partner must be a general practitioner (GP).

Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) contracts are used where NHS England wants to offer the contract to a wider range of providers. These contracts may be held by independent or voluntary sector providers and other NHS providers as well as GP contractors.

The following table shows the numbers of practices by contract type for the years requested. 2014 data is not yet available.