§ 47. Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if prosecutions 223W of persons who falsely claim exemption from prescription charges will be undertaken by his Department or that of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
§ Mr. EnnalsWhere a prosecution is warranted it will be undertaken by my Department or by the Executive Council concerned. The services of my Department's legal officers will be available in all cases.
§ 53. Mr. Arnold Shawasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce a scheme whereby chronically sick patients who are not exempt from prescription charges can pay the 55s. cost of an annual season ticket by weekly instalments.
§ Mr. EnnalsNo.
§ 54. Mr. John Hyndasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if a patient who purchases two six-month prescription charge season tickets in succession will be allowed a rebate of 5s. on the second.
§ Mr. EnnalsNo.
§ 55. Mr. Tom Boardmanasked the Secretary of State for the Social Services whether he will exempt from prescription charges dependants of men under 65 years of age who are in receipt of 100 per cent. war disability pension.
§ Mr. EnnalsI do not consider that there are grounds for extending the present exemption arrangements, from which some of their dependants already benefit.
§ 57. Mr. Molloyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, how long it takes between the application for a season ticket exemption form for prescription charges and its receipt by the applicant in the area of the London Executive Council.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe Inner London Executive Council issues prepayment certificates on the day that the applications are received or the next working day.
§ 58. Mr. Molloyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, what is his estimate of the additional payments to pharmacists to compensate them for the additional work needed to collect pre- 224W scription charges for this year and for the next full year.
§ Mr. EnnalsAbout £500,000 this year and between £800.000 and £850,000 in 1969.
§ 60. Mr. Will Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, on what criteria he fixed the sums of 30s. and 55s. as the figures for the purchase of prescription charge season tickets.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe aim was to help patients requiring frequent prescriptions, and on that basis a fee representing the charge for two prescriptions a month for six months seems reasonable. The small reduction for 12 month certificate reflects the lower administrative costs of issuing a single certificate.
§ 61. Mr. Will Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the holder of a season ticket to cover prescription charges will be allowed a rebate if it is returned within three months of issue.
§ Mr. EnnalsThere is no power to refund the prescribed fee once a valid prepayment certificate has been issued.
§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to collect statistics concerned with the season ticket prescription charge arrangements.
§ Mr. EnnalsArrangements have been made to collect information about the number of prepayment certificates issued and the extent of their use.
§ Mr. Bidwellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the cost of further advertising in the Press or on television to inform patients of their exemption entitlements regarding medical prescription charges.
§ Mr. EnnalsNo further press advertisements are at present contemplated, but we shall keep the situation under review.
§ Mr. Will Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he proposes to take a random sample of E.C. 10 prescription forms to check for false claims to exemption.
§ Mr. EnnalsI would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to a similar Question 225W today from my hon. Friend the Member for Willesden, West (Mr. Pavitt).