Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Heidi Allen and Steve Barclay

Tuesday 19th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Heidi Allen (South Cambridgeshire) (Con)]

15. What steps his Department is taking to support NHS foundation trusts to tackle shortages in clinical staff.

[The Minister for Health (Stephen Barclay)]

The workforce strategy we are bringing forward will include investment and an expansion in the number of medical schools— five new medical schools—alongside those 1,500 new doctor places.

[Heidi Allen]

I had wanted to ask the Secretary of State to get behind exempting nurses and doctors from the tier 2 visa process, but I do not need to do that; I just have to thank him for his support in doing that. Instead, for his next challenge, will he commit to looking again at the pensions cap, which I fear might be one reason some senior NHS professionals and doctors are retiring sooner than they might otherwise do?

[Stephen Barclay]

I am grateful for my hon. Friend’s support on tier 2 visas. She will be aware that clinicians who reach the £1 million lifetime allowance limit can expect a pension of about £44,000, payable at age 60, increasing with inflation, plus a tax-free lump sum of about £132,000. Although these are ultimately issues for the Treasury, it is important that we ensure that tax allowances, two thirds of which go to higher-rate taxpayers, are fair to other taxpayers.