§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what would be the cost to the taxpayer of the abolition of the charges under Sections 212 and 213 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960;
(2) what was the cost to the National Health Service in each of the last three financial years of collecting payments under Section 212 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960;
(3) what was the total cost to the National Health Service in each of the last three financial years of collecting payments under Sections 212 and 213 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960;
(4) what was the revenue collected in each of the last three financial years under Section 213 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960;
(5) what was the total revenue collected in each of the last three financial years under Sections 212 and 213 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960, for treatment given under the National Health Service to persons injured in road accidents;
(6) what was the cost to the National Health Service in each of the last three financial years of collecting payments under Section 213 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960;
(7) what was the revenue collected in each of the last three financial years under Section 212 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960;
(8) what relationship the yield from charges made under Sections 212 and 213 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960, bears to the cost of collection.
§ Mr. AlisonThe amounts collected by National Health Service hospitals in England in the last three financial years under Sections 212 and 213 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960, are as follows:
£ 1968–69 … … 579,000 1969–70 … … 709,000 1970–71 … … 842,000 separate figures for amounts collected under Sections 212 and 213 of the Act are not available. This income would be lost if these charges were abolished, offset by a saving in the administrative costs of collecting the charges; but information on these costs is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate expense.
194W
§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the proportion of time expended by National Health Service staff in the collection of payments under Sections 212 and 213 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960;
(2) how many staff are employed by the National Health Service in collecting payments under Sections 212 and 213 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960.
§ Mr. AlisonThis information is not readily available.
§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will specify the present circumstances in which a charge is made for National Health Service treatment apart from treatment under Sections 212 and 213 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960.
§ Mr. AlisonCharges may be made under the National Health Service for the following services
supply of drugs, medicines, and appliances:dental services and supply of dentures:supply of glasses and contact lenses;services to hospital patients who undertake to pay charges for accommodation:family planning services;chiropody services;vaccination against yellow fever;and certain other services given by local health authorities.There are wide exceptions and exemptions.
§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will now take steps to abolish the motorists' liability for charges made for hospital treatment under Section 212 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960;
(2) if he will now take steps to abolish the motorists' liability for charges made for emergency treatment under Section 213 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960
§ Mr. AlisonNo.