I propose to take Questions Nos. 286 and 296 together.
Under the Health (In-Patient Charges) Regulations, 1987, a person is liable for a statutory charge, unless otherwise exempt, in respect of in-patient public hospital services. These Regulations state that this daily charge, which is currently £20, applies per day or part of a day. The maximum liability which applies to each individual is £200 in any period of twelve consecutive months.
Maintenance charges for public and private accommodation apply on a per night, rather than a per day basis.
In my Press Statement of 23 February, 1993 I referred specifically to this aspect of the Regulations as being of particular concern to me and it is one of the issues being examined by the Group which I have set up in order to review the statutory charges.