Postal And Proxy Forms (Charges)

Mr. Burstow
To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances general practitioners are permitted to charge people for signing postal and proxy forms; and what guidance his Department has provided on this issue. [6658]

Mr. Milburn
General practitioners are not permitted to charge patients for signing a postal or proxy form to enable a person to be registered as an absent voter on grounds of physical incapacity. This is set out in Schedule 9 of the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992.