HC Deb 01 May 1961 vol 639 cc879-80
7. Mr. Walker

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will simplify the form that is used in respect of applications for refunds of National Health Service charges.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The form of application available in chemists' shops and dispensaries requires of the applicant no more than his name and reference number or address. The layout of the form has been improved and supplies of the new form will shortly be available.

Mr. Walker

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are nearly 1,000 words on this form? As the form is used mainly by people who may be suffering from poor eyesight, could he look into the question of reducing the number of words?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The form has to cope with three different categories, the war pensioner, the person in regular receipt of National Assistance and the person not in regular receipt of National Assistance. While I share the desire of my hon. Friend to keep it simple, if we cut out too much we should be charged, quite rightly, with not giving full and necessary information to those concerned.

Mr. Houghton

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the main anxiety of the House is about the refund of prescription charges to those who are not war pensioners and not in regular receipt of National Assistance? Both those categories are perhaps aware of their rights, but for those on the border-line of National Assistance hardship may exist. Would he agree that perhaps the use being made of this form for refunds would be an index of how effective the arrangements are? Could he say when he would be ready to reply to a question on how many refunds are being made to persons not in the two categories I have mentioned?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I am not quite sure how long the time lag in respect of these figures will be, although, as the hon. Member will recall, I have given them for past periods from time to time. I agree with the hon. Member that the most difficult category is that of people who are not in receipt of assistance and who are not war pensioners. On the other hand, from the point of view of this form they are numerically much the smallest number of the three.

8. Mr. Walker

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will send copies of the simple leaflet explaining the system of refunds under the National Health Service to all doctors and to all persons at present benefiting under National Assistance.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Health arranged for all doctors in the National Health Service to receive copies of the leaflet during the first half of April. Persons on assistance are already informed by the Board about the refund procedure.