§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what date he decided to raise the charges for health benefits under the National Health Service by 25 per cent.
§ Mr. CrossmanIt is not the normal practice to disclose the precise timing of Government decisions and I have nothing to add to my announcement of 5th May.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give details showing how his estimates that the costs of health benefits under the National Health Service have risen by 25 per cent. since 1961 were arrived at.
§ Mr. CrossmanThe reference in my statement on 5th May was to the cost of dentures and lenses. The cost of a complete set of National Health Service plastic dentures—the most widely used type—has increased since 1961 by 27½ per cent. For other kinds of dentures and for partial dentures the cost increase ranges from about 26 per cent. to 43 per cent.
The average cost of lenses has increased by about 53 per cent. since 1961. If account is taken also of the dispensing fee the overall increase averages about 30 per cent.—[Vol. 783, c. 42–50.]