§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many doctors have been fined for giving free prescriptions to private patients in the past year; and what was the total of the fines collected.
§ Mr. AlisonI assume the hon. Member to be referring to withholdings of remuneration directed following investigations under the National Health Service (Service Committees and Tribunal) Regulations of whether a general medical practitioner is in breach of the statutory requirement that NHS prescription forms shall not be used for persons other than his NHS patients.
If so, the answer to the first part of the Question is, "one". The total withholding directed was £655.39, but this took account of an estimated £367 in wrongfully claimed maternity fees and the £63.39 cost to the NHS of the prescriptions involved.