Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has considered reforming the Carr-Hill Formula in the context of GP practices which pay a higher proportion of the global sum on staff costs.

The Carr-Hill formula includes the staff market forces factor within the unavoidable costs adjustment. This was designed to account for the higher cost of employing staff in some parts of the country.

We know that the Carr-Hill formula is considered outdated. This is why we have committed to review the formula to ensure that resources are targeted where they are most needed.

As part of this review, the effectiveness of the market forces factor will be considered alongside other factors which are taken into account by the Carr-Hill formula. Further detail will be confirmed in due course.