§ 78. Mr. Hugh D. Brownasked the Minister of Health what progress is being made in assessing the cost of introducing a scheme to exempt families in receipt of supplementary benefits, or whose incomes are below such a level, from payment of prescription charges.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonIn consultation with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Social Security I am considering whether it will be practicable in respect of persons who establish continuing eligibility on the basis of hardship to introduce arrangements for exemption rather than refund.14W No close estimate of cost is possible at present.
§ 79. Mr. Lomasasked the Minister of Health whether the costs of prescription charges will be taken into account in assessing whether a person's net income is low enough to qualify for refunds of prescription charges.
§ 81. Mr. Ormeasked the Minister of Health in what respect the means test for refunds of prescription charges will differ from the means test for free welfare foods.
§ 82. Mr. Newensasked the Minister of Health what evidence of earnings will be required from low-paid workers and their families in connection with the refunding of prescription charges.
§ 86. Mr. Englishasked the Minister of Health over what period of time the income of an applicant for refund of prescription charges will be assessed.
§ 87 and 88. Mr. Hooleyasked the Minister of Health (1) whether persons affected by trade disputes will be entitled to refund of prescription charges;
(2) whether a rate rebate which has been applied for but which has not yet been awarded will be taken into account in assessing entitlement to refunds of prescription charges.
§ 89 and 90. Mr. Manuelasked the Minister of Health (1) whether disablement benefit paid as a lump sum in respect of a specified period will be treated as weekly income for the purpose of assessing entitlement to refunds of prescription charges;
(2) to what extent, and in what circumstances parental income will be taken into account in assessing the entitlement of university students to refunds of prescription charges.
§ 91. Dr. Grayasked the Minister of Health how regular payments by a person to a needy relative will be treated in assessing his entitlement to refunds of prescription charges.
§ 92 and 93. Dr. Millerasked the Minister of Health (1) how hire-purchase instalments in respect of essential items of furniture will be treated in assessing entitlement to refunds of prescription charges;
15W(2) how regular payments from relatives will be treated in assessing a person's entitlement to refunds of prescription charges.
§ 94. Mr. Orbachasked the Minister of Health whether the cost of domestic help will be deducted in assessing the net income of a disabled person for the purpose of refunds of prescription charges.
§ 95. Mr. Urwinasked the Minister of Health whether the means test for refunds of prescription charges will be more generous for families whose income has been below the usual qualifying limit for two years or more.
§ 96. Mr. John Leeasked the Minister of Health whether the allowances in university students' grants for books and travelling expenses will be disregarded in assessing their entitlement to refunds of prescription charges.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonMy right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Social Security and I are considering the detailed criteria to be used for determining eligibility for the refund of prescription charges to patients who are not also in a category entitled to be exempted from paying them or already receiving supplementary benefit.
§ 80. Mr. Lomasasked the Minister of Health what is the estimated cost of printing and distributing application forms for refunds when prescription charges are reintroduced.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonNo close estimate is at present possible, but I should not expect the cost to be great.
§ 83. Mr. Probertasked the Minister of Health how savings were taken into account in assessing entitlement to refunds of prescription charges before 1965; and whether they will be taken into account in the same way when the charges are reintroduced.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonSavings of less than £125 were ignored as was the first £375 of "war savings". Where the savings (excluding "war savings" of up to £375) were £125 or more, they were taken into account as income at the rate of 6d. a week for the first £125 plus a further 6d. a week for each further £25. Persons with savings of more than £600 (not16W counting the first £375 of "war savings") could not receive refunds. As to the second half of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Lomas).
§ 84. Mr. Probertasked the Minister of Health what amount of weekly earnings was disregarded in assessing entitlement to refunds of prescription charges before 1965; and whether the same amount is to be disregarded when the charges are reintroduced.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonThirty shillings. As to the second half of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Lomas).
§ 85. Mr. Gardnerasked the Minister of Health what steps he will take to inform students of the conditions for reclaiming prescription charges.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI shall be consulting my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Social Security about measures to ensure that all patients entitled to the refund of charges are aware of the arrangements which apply to them.
§ Dr. John Dunwoodyasked the Minister of Health with which outside organisations he intends holding consultations before he takes his final decisions on exemptions and refunds from prescription charges.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonConsultations on the arrangements generally are needed with the bodies representing the professions which will be immediately concerned with operating the new arrangements. Wider consultation will take place as necessary on particular aspects. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Social Security will be consulting organisations representative of interests for which she is responsible, such as the British Legion.
§ Dr. John Dunwoodyasked the Minister of Health at present how many different types of colours of prescription forms are used within the National Health Service; and for what purposes they are used.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonPrescription forms for dispensing by chemists under the 17W National Health Service are in five colours: white, for normal use by general practitioners; peach for use for hospital out-patients in certain circumstances; green for use by doctors who normally dispense for their patients themselves but are unable to supply certain items; buff for use by medical officers in the Armed Forces when service facilities are not available; and yellow for use by dentists. There is no standard colour for prescriptions dispensed in hospital pharmacies.
§ Dr. John Dunwoodyasked the Minister of Health what arrangements he intends making for the collection of prescription charges from the patients of dispensing doctors.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI intend that arrangements for collection of charges by dispensing doctors from those due to pay them should be as before 1965. Arrangements for exemption are under discussion with the profession.
§ Mr. Arnold Shawasked the Minister of Health (1) how capital gains will be treated in assessing entitlement to refunds of prescription charges;
(2) how a purchased annuity will be treated in assessing entitlement to refunds of prescription charges.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI would refer my hon. Friend to my reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Lomas).
§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Minister of Health if he has yet worked out an equitable scheme for the proposed payment of prescription charges.
§ Mr. K RobinsonI would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Willesden, West (Mr. Pavitt) on 29th February. Discussions with the professions are continuing.—[Vol. 759, c.416.]