§ Mr. Raceasked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has made to the secretary of the British Medical Association concerning its advice to general practitioners to charge disabled persons £19 for supplying a certificate exempting them from wearing motor vehicle seat belts; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI met the British Medical Association many months ago to discuss these matters. It is firmly of the view that its members should carry out full medical examinations of applicants for medical exemption from compulsory seat belt wearing. As such examinations are outside the National Health Service, it advised that its members should charge £19 in line with charges for other comparable medical examinations.
It is open to individual doctors to decide to charge less and I have made it clear that we hope that they will consider applications from those on low incomes or the disabled without charge, or at least at nominal charge, particularly if they know the applicant's medical condition well. Information on those entitled to free examinations at DHSS medical boarding centre is set out in our publicity leaflet, "Seat Belts, the Law and You", published in September and placed in the Library, along with copies of the associated leaflet "Child Safety in Cars".