HC Deb 19 November 1976 vol 919 cc790-1W
Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the total amount written off in respect of defaulting pay-bed patients by each of the regional health authorities in England since their inception.

Mr. Moyle

The accounts submitted to my Department by health authorities do not separately identify the bad debts written off in respect of defaulting pay-bed patients.

Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the total amount recovered by legal action from defaulting pay-bed patients by each of the regional health authorities in England since their inception.

Mr. Moyle

The accounts submitted to my Department by health authorities do not separately identify pay-bed income recovered as a result of the institution of legal action. However, details of the amount recovered in 1975–76 has been obtained from health authorities. The total amount involved was £170,703. I gave a breakdown by regional health authority in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) on Thursday 18th November.

Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the total amount recovered by legal action from defaulting pay-bed patients by each of the regional hospital boards in England for the 10 years preceding their demise.

Mr. Moyle

The accounts submitted to my Department by the former regional hospital boards did not separately identify these amounts.

Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the total amount written off in respect of defaulting pay-bed patients by each of the regional hospital boards in England for the 10 years preceding their demise.

Mr. Moyle

The accounts submitted to this Department by the former regional hospital boards did not separately identify these amounts.