§ Mr. Pavitt asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the total cost of his pilot scheme to be operated in 12 hospitals to question all patients on their nationality.
§ Dr. Vaughan:The estimated cost of the survey, which is being carried out at the 10 hospitals listed below, is £4,540. The survey is concerned with where patients live, not their nationality.
- Addenbrooke's hospital, Cambridge
- Hillingdon hospital, Middlesex
- The Queen Mother's hospital, Glasgow
- Royal Gwent hospital, Newport
- Royal Northern hospital
- St. Bernard's hospital, Middlesex
- University College hospital
- Warwick General hospital
- West Suffolk hospital, Bury St. Edmunds
- Wythenshawe hospital, Manchester
Mr. Pavitt asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the number of additional administrative staff to be employed in each of the following hospitals engaged in his pilot study to question patients on their nationality: Addenbrooke's, Cambridge, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, West Suffolk, Bury St. Edmunds, Royal Gwent, North Manchester, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, Hillingdon, University College, St. Bernard's, Ealing and the Royal Northern, Holloway.
§ Dr. Vaughan:None.
269WSickness Benefit
Mr. Higgins asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received regarding employers' responsibility for payment of sickness benefit; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Rossi:Over 250 representations on the consultative document, "Compensating Employers for Statutory Sick Pay", were received from employers and others. In addition, many right hon. and hon. Members have written conveying the views of their constituents. Most responses expressed continuing concern over the method of compensation for statutory sick pay.
My right hon. Friend announced recently that the Government have decided to compensate employers for their new liability by the method known as 100 per cent. self-deduction, which was the overwhelming choice of industry. When the scheme comes into operation, employers will be able to deduct the full amount of their statutory sick payments from their payments of national insurance contributions. We hope to introduce a Bill early in the next Session so that the scheme should operate from April 1983.