(1)After section 186 of the National Health Service Act 2006 insert—
(1)The Secretary of State may make charges under this subsection in respect of any step taken under section 2A.
(2)The power conferred by subsection (1) does not apply in respect of the provision of a service or facility to an individual, or the taking of any other step in relation to an individual, for the purpose of protecting the individual’s health.
(3)Charges under subsection (1) may be calculated on such basis as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
(4)Regulations may provide for the making and recovery of charges in respect of—
(a)the taking of prescribed steps by a local authority under section 2A (by virtue of regulations under section 6C(1)), and
(b)the taking of prescribed steps by a local authority under section 2B.
(5)Regulations under subsection (4) may make provision as to the calculation of charges authorised by the regulations, including provision prescribing the amount or the maximum amount that may be charged.
(6)Nothing in this section affects any other power conferred by or under this Act to make charges.”
(2)In section 272 of that Act (orders, regulations, rules and directions), in subsection (6) after paragraph (zc) insert—
“(zd)regulations under section 186A(4),”.