§ Mr. Colvinasked the Secretary of State for Social Servces what are his detailed plans for increasing the current maximum limits on charges payable under sections 154–155 of the Road Traffic Act 1972 in respect of National Health Service treatment costs following road traffic accidents.
§ Dr. VaughanFrom 1 April 1980 the maximum charge payable by insurance companies under the Road Traffic Act 1972 will be increased from £200 to £1,250 in respect of in-patient treatment and from £20 to £125 for out-patient treatment. These charges were last adjusted in 1969 and the new figures are the present-day equivalents in terms of cost of treatment. Only the actual cost is recovered and in many instances individual amounts will be less than the maximum. The National Health Service bears any extra cost above the limit.
From the same date the emergency treatment fee payable by vehicle users to a doctor or hospital providing treatment 313W following a road accident will be increased from £1.25 to £6.75. The current mileage rate of 2½p payable to general practitioners under the Act was set in 1934 and is also being looked at.