§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what criteria he uses in assessing under Section 64 of the National Health Service Act 1977 how much a patient in hospital, who goes out 17W to work, should pay towards his maintenance in hospital ; how much money has been recovered from such patients in the last year for which figures are available ; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Moyle :Health Circular HC(76)53 —a copy of which has been placed in the Library—sets out the formula which health authorities are at present asked to apply in assessing the amount which should be recovered from a hospital inpatient who engages in paid work outside the hospital, as a contribution towards his maintenance costs. The total amount received in 1975–6 was x00A3;431,500.