Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government why the calculated funding allocated for the local clinical excellence awards scheme is not based on all consultants treating patients in the NHS, including clinical academic consultants.

Access to the local clinical excellence award scheme is a contractual entitlement for all consultants employed on the 2003 terms and conditions. The central funding for awards is calculated on this basis. Clinical academics hold honorary contracts with the National Health Service and therefore have no contractual right to the scheme. However, employers continue to be encouraged to include clinical academics in the awards process.