Prescription Charges (Exemption) (Hansard, 14 April 1969)

§ 45. Mr. Leadbitter
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications were made in Hartlepool for exemption from prescription charges on grounds of hardship during the period from March 1968 to March 1969, inclusive; and how many applications were successful.

§ Mr. Crossman
Between 10th June, 1968, when prescription charges were reintroduced,

CHECKING OF CLAIMED EXEMPTION FROM PRESCRIPTION CHARGES

Estimated staffing and costs on an annual basis Results of checks

Number of Officers engaged on checking (whole-time equivalents) Number of prescription forms checked Number of patients found to be not exempt

Executive Council Senior Officers Clerical Officers Costs Period of check Charges recovered

£ £ s. d.

Warwickshire and Solihull — 1.3 1,100 September, 1968 to January, 1969 3,800 36 12 0 0

Merseyside comprising^* Birkenhead, Bootle, Liverpool, Wallasey 0.2 1.8 2,000 September, 1968 to January, 1969 11,200 230 54 17 6

^* Cheshire and Lancashire Executive Councils have been excluded. Only a minor part of "Merseyside" is included in these Council areas and no sub-division is available of their figures.

200W
and 18th March, 1969, the local offices in Hartlepool received 265 claims for exemption, refund or both on grounds of hardship. Some 125 resulted in the issue of an exemption certificate and 117 refunds were made.

§ Mr. Leslie Huckfield
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of clerical grade officers and senior officers employed by the Warwickshire Executive Council to check the entitlement to exemption from prescription charges; what is their estimated annual cost; what was the number of prescriptions checked between September, 1968 and January, 1969; what was the number of patients found not to have been entitled to exemption; and what was the total of the charge recovered from those patients.

§ Mr. Brooks
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of clerical grade officers and senior officers employed by the relevant executive councils to check the entitlement to exemption from prescription charges among the population of Merseyside; what is their estimated annual cost; what was the number of prescriptions checked between September, 1968, and January, 1969; what was the number of patients found not to have been entitled to exemption; and what was the total of the charge recovered from those patients.

§ Mr. Crossman
Following is the information:

CHECKING OF CLAIMED EXEMPTION FROM PRESCRIPTION CHARGES
	Estimated staffing and costs on an annual basis	Results of checks
	Number of Officers engaged on checking (whole-time equivalents)			Number of prescription forms checked	Number of patients found to be not exempt
Executive Council	Senior Officers	Clerical Officers	Costs	Period of check	Charges recovered
			£				£	s.	d.
Warwickshire and Solihull	—	1.3	1,100	September, 1968 to January, 1969	3,800	36	12	0	0
Merseyside comprising^* Birkenhead, Bootle, Liverpool, Wallasey	0.2	1.8	2,000	September, 1968 to January, 1969	11,200	230	54	17	6
^* Cheshire and Lancashire Executive Councils have been excluded. Only a minor part of "Merseyside" is included in these Council areas and no sub-division is available of their figures.