§ Mr. Charles R. Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Transport, further to the reply to the hon. Member for the Isle of Ely (Mr. Freud), Offcial Report, 21 October, c. 199,if, in view of the difficulty caused to many people 275W in finding the £19 fee for a medical examination for issue of a certificate of exemption from wearing a seat belt, he will bring this examination within National Health Service provision.
§ Mr. ChalkerNo. It has always been understood throughout the debates on this issue that this service would be outside a doctor's National Health Service commitment. I believe we have made adequate arrangements for those who are most likely to have difficulty paying a fee, by providing free examinations for those on low incomes or who are disabled. In other cases, doctors are able to charge less than the £19 fee recommended by the British Medical Association, particularly when considering applications from those whose medical conditions they know well.
Assistance paid or offered to the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Industries in Great Britain £ million Financial Years 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 April-Sept. 1982 Regional development grants (amounts paid) Textiles 9.6 13.1 15.1 3.5 Clothing and footwear 3.1 4.6 5.2 1.7 Total 12.7 17.7 20.3 5.2 Selective assistance section 7 and 8 (value of offers) Textiles 9.3 6.9 9.6 3.8 Clothing and footwear 4.4 4.0 2.8 3.3 Total 13.7 10.9 12.4 7.1 Information about assistance granted to companies in areas which became non-assisted on 1 August 1982 is not available.