§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many private patients have not settled their accounts with the Cleveland area health authority; how many of these accounts have been outstanding for more than three months; what sums have been written off in the years 1976 to 1980; and what is the present total sum owed by private patients.
§ Dr. VaughanThe only information held centrally relating specifically to bad debts for private patients is applications to write off debts in excess of £1,000. For the Cleveland area health authority, no such applications have been made for the years in question. The Department also receives an annual statement of losses which includes an entry covering all bad debts written off. For the Cleveland health authority these sums were as follows: 1976–77—£1,528, 1977–78—£1,975, 1978–79—£1,627. This annual statement does not, however, identify how much of these related to the debts of private patients alone. The hon. Member may wish to approach Cleveland area health authority direct for a fuller answer to his question.