§ 25. Mr. ANSTRUTHER-GRAYasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the present amount of benefit accruing to hospitals by reason of third-party accident claims under the Road Traffic Act, 1930, is only approximately £25,000 a year, or 10 per cent. of the total cost incurred in treating patients injured in road accidents; and whether he will consider making inquiries into this matter with a view to obtaining information on which amending legislation may be based?
§ Mr. PYBUSI would refer my hon. Friend to the answers which I gave on this subject on the 13th and 28th April to the hon. Members for Bolton (Sir J. Haslam) and Leigh (Mr. Tinker), respectively, of which I am sending him copies.
§ Mr. ANSTRUTHER-GRAYDoes my hon. Friend realise the financial straits to which hospitals are reduced through these cases, and will he consider doing something in the near future?
§ Mr. PYBUSI have said, in answer to a previous question, that I do sympathise with the position of the hospitals, but it is not at the present moment desirable to suggest the introduction of further legislation.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs the hon. Gentleman not aware that the reason why the hospitals are crowded out is that the panel doctors send their patients there?