News » Political News » Lords vote down proposed increased NI contributions for GPs
February 26th 2025
Lords have voted down Government proposals to raise the employer National Insurance Contribution.
In a debate in the Lords, an amendment tabled by Liberal Democrat Baroness Barker called for NHS GPs, dentists, and pharmacists, as well as care providers, to pay contributions at current rates.
At the end of the one hour, 13-minute debate, Lords voted 305 to 175 to support the amendment to the National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill.
Calling the debate, Baroness Barker said: “In the health and social care sector, the sudden imposition of these changes to national insurance, along with the increases in the minimum wage, are going to threaten the existence of large numbers of providers and have a profound impact on budgets.”
Heading the support for the amendment for dispensing GPs, DDA advisor Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Con) said: “Pharmacies and dispensing doctors are currently not being fully reimbursed for the costs of medicines that they are dispensing or prescribing, so they are in an acutely difficult position.”
Adding to the case, Liberal democrat peer Baroness Kramer voiced concern that the increased NI contributions for GPs could lead to the cancellation of around two million GP appointments.
Opposing the amendment, life peer Lord Eatwell (Labour) said: “[They] add damaging complexity to the Bill and scatter public funds in an ill-considered manner. All should be withdrawn.”
The Financial Secretary to the Treasury Lord Livermore added: “The Government have announced an extra £899 million for general practice in 2025-26. The Department of Health and Social Care is consulting with the General Practitioners Committee in England of the British Medical Association on the 2025-26 GP contract and will consider a range of proposed policy changes. These will be announced in the usual way following the close of the consultation later this year.”
The Lords also voted against an amendment to set a new National Insurance contribution rate for part-time workers.
