§ 79. Mr. W. Wellsasked the Minister of Health whether his regulations allow British subjects who are temporarily leaving the United Kingdom to have copies of National Health Service prescriptions that they need while overseas.
§ Mr. BevanThere is nothing to prevent such persons from arranging with their doctors for copies of any prescriptions, but there is no obligation on the doctor.
§ 87. Mr. Orbachasked the Minister of Health whether he will consider exempting from the proposed charge for medical prescriptions all persons over 70 years of age and all persons suffering from chronic illness demanding frequent prescriptions.
76W
§ 88. Mr. McAdamasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the charge of 1s. for each prescription under the National Health Service creates as serious a financial burden on the person who is off work through sickness or disability as it does on the old age pensioner; and if he will take steps to exclude from the payment for prescriptions all people whose only source of income is sickness or disability payments.
§ Mr. BevanThe arrangements for giving effect to the change announced by the Prime Minister on 24th October are under consideration and I am not yet in a position to add to that statement.
§ Mr. Shurmerasked the Minister of Health if, when granting free National Health prescriptions to old age pensioners, he will consider making a similar concession to persons of proven hardship such as widows, permanent invalids and persons whose only income in many cases is provided by the Assistance Board.
§ Mr. BevanI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given today to my hon. Friends the Members for East Willesden (Mr. Orbach) and North Salford (Mr. McAdam).