Junior doctors have voted in favour of strike action in a row with the Government over a new contract.

:: What is the dispute about?

The Government is intent on introducing a new contract for doctors working up to consultant level to replace one it says is ''outdated''.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt wants to introduce a ''truly seven-day NHS''. He plans to cut the number of hours on a weekend that junior doctors can claim extra pay.

Under the most recent proposals, doctors will receive an 11% rise in basic pay but extra pay for ''unsocial'' hours will be cut.

Currently 7pm to 7am Monday to Friday and the whole of Saturday and Sunday attract a premium rate of pay.

Under the new plans, a higher rate would run from 10pm to 7am Monday to Friday, and from 7pm on Saturday evenings (a concession on the previous 10pm).

Other proposals are to replace the GP pay supplement (without which GPs would be paid on average 31% less than hospital trainees) and replace it with a ''flexible pay premium''.

The BMA is concerned this could be removed over time and may only be offered in certain geographic areas.

Mr Hunt has said flexible pay premiums would be applied to more specialities than just general practice and A&E care, with acute medical ward staff and psychiatrists benefiting.

He argues that, under the new deal, just 1% of doctors would lose pay and those would be limited to doctors working too many hours already.

He said maximum working hours per week would fall from 91 to 72.

Johann Malawana, the BMA's junior doctor committee chairman, has said the increase in basic pay is misleading due to the changes to pay for unsocial hours. He said this devalues the vital work junior doctors do in the evenings and at weekends.

The BMA has also said the Government needs to lift the threat that the contract will be imposed on doctors.

Guaranteed pay increases linked to time in the job are being scrapped and replaced with a system linked to progression through set training stages.

This, the BMA argues this affects some trainees, such as women who take time out to have a baby.

:: What about fee-paying work?

At the moment junior doctors can retain any fees earned for work beyond their NHS duties as long as it does not interfere.

Under the new proposals, fees earned would have to be given to a doctor's employer.

The BMA says this would constitute a significant loss of income for some doctors in training, and restrict their potential income compared with what is available currently.

:: When will the strikes happen?

Junior doctors would only provide emergency care for 24 hours from 8am on December 1, followed by full walkouts from 8am to 5pm on December 8 and 16.