§ Mr. Robert Atkinsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the mileage allowance payable to community nursing staff;
(2) when the last increase in mileage allowance was payable to community nursing staff;
(3) if he has any plans to review the mileage allowance payable to community nursing staff.
§ Sir George YoungI refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighouse and Spenborough (Mr. Weller) on 18 June.—[Vol. 968, c.426.]
§ Mr. Robert Atkinsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of assisting those community nursing staff who need to use their own vehicles in the course of their work; 733W and what proportion of the actual cost of such use is borne by the staff themselves.
§ Sir George YoungStatistics detailing the cost to employing authorities of NHS mileage allowances are not held centrally. The rates of allowance, which are negotiated between the staff and management sides of the General Whitley Council and are based upon the Automobile Association schedule of estimated standing charges and running costs, are designed fully to reimburse to staff the costs incurred in travelling in their private cars on official business. A survey is currently being undertaken on behalf of the council into current pat-terns of usage by staff of private cars on official NHS business and the results, expected later this year, will enable the council to review the present system of calculating mileage allowances.