Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of GP surgeries in Sheffield, Heeley constituency that will have to (a) reduce patient services and (b) close as a result of the phased withdrawal of the Minimum Practice Income Guarantee.

This is a matter for NHS England.

The Minimum Practice Income Guarantee (MPIG) was introduced as part of the 2004 General Medical Services (GMS) contract as a temporary top-up payment to some general practitioner practices to smooth the transition to new funding arrangements. It is being phased out because it is not fair. We want a simplified, fair and transparent system. The funding released from MPIG over seven years will be reinvested in the basic payments made to all GMS practices. For the majority of practices there will be a net gain in practice income. Making changes over this period will allow the minority of practices that lose funding to adjust gradually to a reduction in payments.