National Health Service Act 1977

F1 122B Penalties. E+W+S

(1) Regulations may provide that, where a person fails to pay—

(a) any amount recoverable from him under section 122(1) above in respect of the provision of goods or services to which section 122A above applies, or

(b) any amount recoverable from him under section 122A above,

a notice (referred to in this section as a penalty notice) may be served on the person by the responsible authority requiring him to pay to the authority, within a prescribed period, that amount together with a charge (referred to in this section as a penalty charge) of an amount determined in accordance with the regulations.

(2) The regulations may not provide for the amount of the penalty charge to exceed whichever is the smaller of—

(a) £100,

(b) the amount referred to in subsection (1)(a) or (b) above multiplied by 5.

(3) The Secretary of State may by order provide for subsection (2) above to have effect as if, for the sum specified in paragraph (a) or the multiplier specified in paragraph (b) (including that sum or multiplier as substituted by a previous order), there were substituted a sum or (as the case may be) multiplier specified in the order.

(4) Regulations may provide that, if a person fails to pay the amount he is required to pay under a penalty notice within the period in question, he must also pay to the responsible authority by way of penalty a further sum determined in accordance with the regulations.

(5) The further sum must not exceed 50 per cent. of the amount of the penalty charge.

(6) Any sum payable under the regulations (including the amount referred to in subsection (1)(a) or (b) above) may be recovered by the responsible authority summarily as a civil debt.

(7) But a person is not liable by virtue of a penalty notice—

(a) to pay at any time so much of any amount referred to in subsection (1)(a) or (b) above for which he is jointly and severally liable with another as at that time has been paid, or ordered by a court to be paid, by that other, or

(b) to a penalty charge, or a further sum by way of penalty, if he shows that he did not act wrongfully, or with any lack of care, in respect of the charge or payment in question.

(8) In spite of section 126(1) below, no order is to be made under subsection (3) above unless a draft has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, each House of Parliament.

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 122A-122C inserted (1.11.1999 for E. and 9.2.2001 for W.) by 1999 c. 8, ss. 39(3), 67(1); S.I. 1999/2793, art. 2(1)(a), Sch. 1; S.I. 2001/270, art. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Ss. 122A-122C extended (1.11.1999 for E. and 9.2.2001 for W.) by 1999 c. 8, ss. 39(3), 67(1); S.I. 1999/2793, art. 2(1)(a), Sch. 1; S.I. 2001/270, art. 2

C2 S. 122B: Power to apply (with modifications) conferred (11.5.2001 for certain purposes, otherwise 8.3.2002 for E. and 1.7.2002 for W.) by 2001 c. 15, ss. 35(2)(d), 70(2) (with ss. 64(9), 65(4)); S.I. 2002/1095, art. 2(4); S.I. 2002/1475, art. 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1