Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) of section one of the Act of 1946, or subsection (2) of section one of the Act of 1947, it shall be lawful, in the case of any person for whom the Minister or, as the case may be, the Secretary of State is providing hospital and specialist services as an in-patient and who is absent during the day from the hospital where he is a patient for the purpose of engaging in employment for which he is remunerated, for the Minister or Secretary of State to require that person to pay such part of the cost of his maintenance in the hospital and any costs incidental thereto, as may seem to the Minister or Secretary of State reasonable having regard to the amount of the remuneration, and the Minister or Secretary of State may recover the payment so required.