Oral Answers to Questions

Desmond Swayne Excerpts
Tuesday 18th June 2019

(5 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Seema Kennedy Portrait Seema Kennedy
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It is distressing to hear of such a case, and these situations are very distressing for patients and their carers. The NHS Business Services Authority has taken steps to make things clearer, including with an easy-read patient information booklet and an online eligibility checker. We are also running a national awareness campaign, but of course we do need to ensure that people are not claiming for things to which they are not entitled.

Desmond Swayne Portrait Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)
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I have constituents who are furious at repeatedly receiving penalty notices that subsequently have to be quashed. The system is rubbish, isn’t it?

Seema Kennedy Portrait Seema Kennedy
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I do not agree with my right hon. Friend that the system is rubbish. If somebody does receive a penalty charge notice incorrectly, there are procedures in place to challenge that notice. If somebody thinks they have received a penalty charge that they should not have received, they should contact the NHS Business Services Authority.