§ Mr. Cyril Smithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider introducing legislation to ensure adequate insurance cover for hospital staffs attending the scene of outside accidents, particularly flying squads and emergency teams now being formed; and if he will also take steps to ensure the proper organisation of road accident services, in view of the increased hazards of motorways and traffic density.
§ Mr. AlisonSection 10 of the Superannuation Act 1972 already enables my right hon. Friend to make appropriate provision by means of regulations for persons engaged in the National Health Service who may be killed or permanently incapacitated in the course of their duties. He is awaiting the recommendations of the Joint Superannuation Consultative Committee as to the level of provision, which I understand are likely to reach him shortly, before making regulations which will then be applied retrospectively to May 1972. In the meantime the existing provision for injury benefits contained in the National Health Service (Super-annuation) Regulations 1961 (S.I. 1961 No. 1441) remains in force.
If the hon. Member will let me know in what respects he considers the present medical arrangements for dealing with 371W road accident cases need improving I will gladly look into the matter.