§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the gross income raised by charges to overseas visitors in the first year of operation; and what was the income net of costs incurred in each district health authority.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI have already provided the hon. Member with the latest information which is available centrally on the income from NHS charges to overseas visitors, relating to 1982–83 on 16 November 1983, at columns499–504, and 16 January 1984, at column 137. These figures represent gross income. The charges are set at a level to cover the average costs of treatment. Further information on income in 1983–84 will not be available centrally until the autumn. For the reasons that I gave in my previous answer, it will never be possible to produce an exact figure of income from the recent policy change. Any income produced for the NHS by a fair and legitimate system of the kind we have introduced will be welcome.