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Department of Health

I am extremely grateful. The Minister has not mentioned deficits so far. I asked the Library about the cause of the deficits and was told that 21 per cent. of the increased expenditure last year went on pensions. I was also told that, according to the British Medical Association, consultants’ pensions would rise by 24 per cent. and GPs’ pensions by 56 per cent. because of the new contracts. Is that a wise and fair use of money when the Government are refusing to do anything about the pensions of those who have been misled and awarded them by the ombudsman?