Primary Care: Quality and Access Improvements

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean Excerpts

Thursday 21st July 2022 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Penn (Con)]

My Lords, the Government have taken action in terms of the annual pension allowance. We are also aware of the issue of the lifetime allowance for GPs. However, it is generally still in the interests of GPs to stay in the profession even when they hit their lifetime allowance. The NHS is working to raise awareness of pensions and the true value of the pension reward package. We know that the lifetime allowance is not the only driver for early retirement. Last year’s GP Worklife Survey reported that the most considerable job stressor is GPs’ increasing workloads, which is why we are so focused on increasing the number of staff in those practices to help deal with that workload.

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean (Lab)]

My Lords, would the Minister be kind enough to address the question asked by my noble friend Lord Winston, which was specifically whether or not the Government support a Select Committee being established to look at the current difficulties for GPs? That was the specific point put, and maybe she would be kind enough to answer it.

[Baroness Penn (Con)]

My understanding is that the establishment of Select Committees is a question for Parliament, not the Government.