§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services for each month since prescription charges were reintroduced in June, 1968, how many persons have been accepted in each of the six exemption categories.
§ Mr. AlisonInformation cannot be supplied in the form requested. The available information about the extent of exemptions from prescription charges is as follows:
1. Persons under 15 years old or aged 65 years or over are entitled to claim exemption without holding an exemption certificate. The numbers so entitled in England and Wales were:—
Under 15 million 65 and over million 1968 … … … 11.4 6.1 1969 … … … 11.5 6.3 1970 … … … 11.6 6.4 2. The numbers of certificates issued by Executive Councils in England and Wales to expectant mothers and mothers of children under 1 year of age, to persons suffering from specified medical conditions, and to applicants for prepayment certificates are shown below.
Period Expectant and nursing mothers Specified medical conditions Prepayment certificates 10.6.68 to 31.12.68 498,000 310,000 44,000 (1.11.68 to 31.12.68 only) 1.1.69 to 30.6.69 279,000 35,000 38,000 1.7.69 to 31.12.69 277,000 23,000 50,000 1.1.70 to 30.6.70 278,000 22,000 40,000 1.7.70 to 31.12.70 289,000 24,000 59,000 The initial period includes certificates issued to persons who because of pre-existing conditions 79W were entitled to apply for exemption immediately on the day that prescription charges were reintroduced. Certificates in relation to specified medical conditions have a validity of 3 years; prepayment certificates are valid for 6 or 12 months.
3. The estimated numbers of war or service disablement pensioners in Great Britain under 65 years of age who held exemption certificates entitling them to claim exemption in respect of prescriptions for treatment for their accepted disablement were as follows:
1968 … … … 253,000 1969 … … … 249,000 1970 … … … 244,000 4. The number of persons in Great Britain between 15 and 65 years of age covered by exemption certificates issued to recipients of supplementary benefit were as follows:—
1968 … … … 1,280,000 1969 … … … 1,340,000 1970 … … … 1,358,000 5. In addition, short-term exemption certificates were issued and refunds were made covering people not in receipt of supplementary benefit but with incomes at or about supplementary benefit level, and their dependants. The table below shows figures for Great Britain.
Quarter ended Number of certificates issued to claimants on grounds of income Number of refunds to claimants on grounds of income September, 1968 … 13,800 10,000 December, 1968 … 9,100 6,500 March, 1969 … 7,300 4,300 June, 1969 … 6,400 3,300 September, 1969 … 5,700 2,600 December, 1969 … 5,400 2,800 March, 1970 … 5,000 3,500 June, 1970 … 4,300 2,700 September, 1970 … 3,800 2,200 December, 1970 … 4,400 2,200 It is not possible to say how many people were covered by these arrangements mainly because over a period one person may receive one or more certificates as well as one or more refunds.