§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the total net saving if all hospital in-patients were charged £5 a week towards the cost of their keep.
§ Mr. MoyleA charge of £5 per week to all hospital in-patients in England would yield a gross sum of about £80 million a year. If exemptions were given for children, pregnant and nursing mothers, patients in psychiatric hospitals, the chronically sick and those from families receiving supplementary benefit or family income supplement, income would be reduced to about £34 million. If those in hospital for less than one week were634W also exempted from proportionate payment, this sum would decrease to about £30 million. These figures take no account of the existing abatement of certain State benefits to patients remaining in hospital for eight weeks or longer, which would reduce the net gain from a"hotel"charge. There would also be a considerable consequential increase in administrative costs.