HC Deb 21 May 1996 vol 278 c93W
Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department collects on(a) debts owed to and (b) bad debts written off by (i) trusts and (ii) health authorities. [30426]

Mr. Horam

The Department collects annual returns from each trust and health authority. Included in these returns is the total debtors for each body analysed in accordance with the current generally accepted accounting principles. Unaudited high level analyses are also collected in the year for management purposes.

Prior to the 1995–96 annual returns trusts did not separately analyse bad debts written off. The 1995–96 annual returns will show bad debts and claims abandoned analysed by private patients, overseas visitors and others.

Prior to the 1995–96 annual returning health authorities analysed bad debts and claims abandoned by private in-patients, private non resident patients, overseas visitors, Road Traffic Act claims and other. The 1995–96 annual returns will show the same analysis as trusts.