§ 70. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of Social Services what categories of persons will be exempt from paying the increased charges for teeth and spectacles, and will be able to claim reimbursement under the supplementary benefit scheme, respectively; how many he estimates will be affected in each category; what is the estimated annual cost of these concessions; and to what extent his estimate of the revenue of £3½ million per annum arising from the increased charges takes them into account.
§ Mr. CrossmanThe arrangements for exemption and refund will continue in their present form. It is not possible to say exactly how many people come into each of the categories, but in 1968 supplementary benefit payments in respect of the present charges for lenses and dentures totalled about £1¾ million in Great Britain. The exemptions and an estimated increase in supplementary benefit payments were taken into account in estimating revenue from the increased charges.