§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress on the recovery of NHS expenditure on the treatment of road accident victims from those responsible for the accidents in question; and if he will make a statement. [45522]
§ Mr. MilburnThe National Health Service recovers around £13 million per year towards the cost of treatment of the victims of road traffic accidents under the terms of the Road Traffic Act 1988. A draft Bill outlining a revised scheme will be introduced as soon as Parliamentary time permits.
The intention in the Bill will be to improve the administration of collection and increase the amounts collected more closely in line with actual costs.
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to further extend the recovery of NHS expenditure on accident victims from those responsible for accidents (i) in the workplace and (ii) elsewhere; and if he will make a statement. [45510]
§ Mr. MilburnThere are currently no plans to extend the recovery of the costs of National Health Service treatment, as provided for by the Road Traffic Act 1988, to other forms of accident. The suggestion that such an extension might be made, as raised by the Law Commission in their consultation document "Damages for personal injury: Medical, nursing and other expenses", is being considered.