§ 3. Mr. Haleasked the Minister of Health the estimated revenue in the last 12 months to the most recent convenient date from the charge for prescriptions under the National Health Service; and what were the estimated costs of collection.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe payments made by patients in England and Wales for prescriptions under the National Health Service amounted in the year ended 31st March, 1955, to approximately £7 million. No payment is made to chemists or doctors for collecting these charges. The cost of collection from out-patients of hospitals is not known but would be relatively negligible.
§ Mr. HaleWill the Minister bear in mind that the trouble to doctors and the trouble to patients and the cost of organisation for the repayment to all old-age pensioners of these charges are all matters which he should consider? This is an irritating and spiteful tax, and the time has come when he should consider abolishing it.
§ Mr. MacleodI do not agree at all. There is a very simple question here. These charges may be irritating, but they bring in £7 million and the amount might be more if their deterrent effect were abolished. The very simple question is whether this is or is not the best way of spending £7 million on the National Health Service. We have always made it clear, during the Election and at other times, that what we would like to do is to build new hospitals.
§ Mr. G. JegerHow much of this £7 million comes from old-age pensioners?
§ Mr. MacleodThere are no figures that would distinguish them.