asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assistance is given to unemployed persons who are required to pay a fee to a doctor in order to obtain a health certificate in the course of an application for a job.

Where the cost is not provided or met by the prospective employer, single payments can be made to those entitled to supplementary benefit, including members of the assessment unit, for the cost of a doctor's medical examination fee where the person would otherwise be unable either to take up employment which has been offered to him or to continue in employment which has been taken up during the 14 days immediately preceding the claim.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to introduce a system for the provision of certificates of health within the National Health Service.

It is already part of a general medical practitioner's terms of service to issue free of charge a certificate stating that in his opinion a patient is fit for work after a period of sickness.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current fee payable under the National Health Service for a doctor's certificate of health provided as part of an application for employment.

No such fee is payable under the National Health Service.