§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money has been paid out by health authorities in each of the last five years as damages in tort actions instituted by patients; and what were the associated legal costs in all cases brought against health authorities in each year.
§ Sir George YoungThe total amounts paid by health authorities in England under legal obligation in respect of claims for compensation are as follows:
£ 1975–76 726,154 1976–77 904,608 1977–78 1,416,461 1978–79 1,519,380 1979–80 *2,191,914 *provisional. Payments in respect of actions instituted by patients are not identified separately within the above totals.