§ Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe)I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely,
the announcement by the Government of an increase in prescription charges.In a written answer, the Government have recently announced yet another increase in prescription charges. Although the Minister said that he would only increase them in line with inflation, the present increase is 2 per cent. above the Government's own estimate of the rate of inflation for 1983. It represents a 700 per cent. increase in prescription charges since May 1979—a 400 per cent. increase in real terms.The matter is important because, on the Government's own estimate, the number of prescriptions that are issued free of charge is falling. On 26 July 1982, the Minister of State said:
Over 75 per cent. of all prescriptions are currently dispensed free".—[Official Report, 26 July 1982; Vol. 28, c. 380.]That figure has now fallen to 69 per cent. Unfortunately, that information has not been given to the House; it has been made clear only in a press statement.The matter is urgent because, although we had two debates on the pharmaceutical industry last Thursday, no Minister gave the House this information. Moreover, there are clear signs that the Government are sitting on the Greenfield report on effective prescribing, which would more than cover the amount of money that will be raised by the present increase in prescription charges.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member for Crewe (Mrs. Dunwoody) gave me notice before 12 noon today that she would seek leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that she thinks should have urgent consideration, namely,
the announcement by the Government of an increase in prescription charges.I have listened with great care to what the hon. Lady has said. The House knows that it has instructed me to give no reasons for my decision but to take account of the several factors set out in the order. I have listened with great care to what the hon. Lady has said, but I must rule that her submission does not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order. Therefore, I cannot submit her application to the House.