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Department of Health

May I remind my right hon. Friend that last year was the first full year of the new GP contract and the new consultant contract, both of which were long overdue and have made significant differences in patient care and outcomes? We talk about large overspends, but it is also fair to say that they have often been put to very good use and that to keep within 1 per cent. of the overall NHS budget is not a bad result if looked at in that way.