HC Deb 12 March 1996 vol 273 cc776-7
10. Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many increases there have been in prescription charges since 1979. [18394]

Mr. Malone

Sixteen.

Mr. Banks

If I had not heard that answer of 16 prescription increases from the lips of a Minister of the Crown, I simply would not have believed it. Does the Minister recall that in 1979 the prescription charge was 20p and, if that had been raised in line with inflation, it would still have been only 51p today instead of £5.50? Is it not also a fact that most of the commonly prescribed drugs cost less than the prescription charge? Prescription charges are a rip-off and, what is more, they are an inefficient rip-off. What miserable, pathetic, cringing excuse has the Minister to offer?

Mr. Malone

I am sorry to disappoint the hon. Gentleman, but I have a few facts which might put what he has been saying in perspective. First, I hope that he understands that prescription charges will contribute £310 million next year to health care. How, if the hon. Gentleman were choosing to modify that policy, would he replace those funds? I hope that he also understands that the average cost of a prescribed item is £9.30, so the prescription charge is two thirds the average cost of the prescribed item. Those are important contributions to NHS health care. I should have thought that the hon. Gentleman might well welcome them.

Mr. Booth

While my hon. Friend is asked to take tablets of scorn from Opposition Members, will he accept a dose of pride from Conservative Members? What other country in the world has 80 per cent. of all its prescription charges, regardless of cost, completely free to patients?

Mr. Malone

My hon. Friend is right to remind the House of that fact, but that is last year's figure. I am pleased to tell him that, according to next year's estimates, that figure will increase to 85 per cent.

Mr. Ashton

Where did the Minister get that figure of £9 from? Has he taken the highest prescription cost and the lowest to get that average, or has he taken the average of the pyramid of all drugs?

Mr. Malone

The figure of £9.30 is an average of all items that are prescribed. I am delighted to confirm that the charge still represents good value for money for what those who make the contribution to the NHS pay. If it is put in perspective, it will be seen by the country to be very good value indeed.

Mr. Devlin

Will my hon. Friend remind us who introduced prescription charges and who, after abolishing them briefly, reintroduced them at a higher rate? Will he also tell us by how much prescription charges are likely to fall under a Labour Government after a careful examination of the policy documents put out by the Labour party?

Mr. Malone

On the second point, my hon. Friend will get absolutely no answer from the Opposition. He is right: he need look no further than the Opposition to find the answers to his first two questions.