HC Deb 17 December 1953 vol 522 cc557-8
30. Mr. Gower

asked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to enable old age pensioners of modest means, who are not in receipt of National Assistance, to be relieved of the liability of paying the charges levied in respect of medical prescriptions; and if he will make a statement.

Miss Hornsby-Smith

No, Sir. This matter was fully discussed in the debates on the National Health Service Act last year, and I cannot add anything to what was said in that discussion.

Mr. Gower

Does not my hon. Friend agree that pensioners who are in receipt of only modest means are, at the end of the week, no better off than persons who receive National Assistance? That being so, should not their needs be given very sympathetic consideration?

Miss Hornsby-Smith

I think that my hon. Friend is under a misapprehension, because, if those old age pensioners are in no better position than people in receipt of the standard rate of National Assistance, then they can apply for a refund.

Mr. Fernyhough

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that apart from the hardship to pensioners the Is. prescription charge is causing hardship to an ever growing number of people? Has not the time arrived when this unwarrantable and immoral imposition should be abolished?

Miss Hornsby-Smith

All our inquiries and investigations about the payment of this prescription charge have produced no evidence to bear out the hon. Gentleman's allegations. In some of the largest hospitals, in very congested and highly industrialised areas, there is no evidence to show that those who do not qualify for the refund, or who are not in receipt of a supplementary pension, find it any great hardship to pay the prescription charge.

Mr. Marlowe

Is there any evidence that the hon. Gentleman opposite thought this proposal immoral when his Government introduced the necessary legislation?

Mr. Fernyhough

Read Hansard.

Mr. G. Thomas

On a point of order. The hon. Member for Barry (Mr. Gower) has raised an important point of principle, and I wonder whether you, Mr. Speaker, can guide us in the matter. When an hon. Member is sorry for the way in which he has cast his vote and wishes to modify it, what redress is open to him to explain that he voted for this charge to be put on pensioners?

Mr. Speaker

That does not seem to be a point of order.