§ 5 and 6. Mr. Arthur Lewis(1)asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why, in view of the improvement in the country's economic situation and balance of payments, he will not remove all charges on the National Health Service; (2) whether, in view of the improvement in Great Britain's economic situation and balance of payments, he will give an assurance that the first action he will take in ameliorating the various restrictions imposed by the Government will be to lift National Health Service prescription charges, impositions in the welfare services and all other social spending which benefits the poorer sections of the population.
§ Mr. Crossman:It is still necessary to control the level of public expenditure and charges in appropriate cases are an important contribution to this.