§ Mr. LockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many medical negligence legal actions have been brought against NHS trusts and health authorities in the last three financial years; and what were the total(a) legal costs involved in defending the actions, (b) legal costs paid out to plaintiffs in the actions and (c) awards made by courts or agreed out-of-court settlements to plaintiffs in the actions; and if he will make a statement. [10083]
§ Mr. MilburnAt present, information on the number of medical negligence legal actions and associated legal costs is not held centrally, although plans are in hand to improve the range and quality of data on clinical negligence. The total amount paid in respect of compensation under legal obligation, and clinical negligence and personal injury cases settled out of court in 1995–96 in England was £173.6 million.