§ Mrs. Ann TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many district health authorities make charges under section 155 of the Road Traffic Act 1972 for payment for emergency treatment of traffic casualties;
(2) what is the estimated cost to a district health authority of making a charge under section 155 of the Road Traffic Act 1972;
(3) what is the total income received by the National Health Service under the provisions of the Road Traffic Act 1972.
§ Mr. FreemanThe total income from emergency treatment fees and charges under sections 157 and 158 for522W in and out-patient treatment recorded in the accounts of district health authorities was £8.7 million for 1988–89 in England. Income from emergency treatment fees is not separately identified. However, the indications are that most, if not all, district health authorities have collected income from this particular source. No information on the cost to district health authorities of collecting these charges is available centrally.