§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the incidence of doctors(a) refusing to authenticate applications for postal votes on medical grounds and (b) charging a fee for signing postal votes; and if he will make a statement. [87463]
§ Mr. George HowarthThere is no way in which such an assessment could be made. The legal position is that, under paragraph 37 and Schedule 9 of the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992, a doctor must issue certain certificates to his or her patients free of charge. These include attestations for absent votes, provided that they are required on grounds of physical incapacity. Anyone who has been charged a fee should in the first instance discuss the situation with the doctor concerned to determine if a refund is appropriate. If the matter cannot be resolved satisfactorily in this way, the patient should contact the local Family Health Services Authority, which has powers to investigate such complaints.