§ 25. Mr. Mayhewasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will have further consultations with the British Medical Association with a view to exempting ex-patients of psychiatric hospitals from prescription charges for a stated period.
§ Mr. AlisonNo, Sir. Extension of the list of specified medical conditions qualifying for exemption from prescription charges has been discussed with the British Medical Association twice during 71W the past 18 months and we are satisfied that no useful purpose would be served by raising the matter again.
§ 28. Mr. Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision is made for people suffering from cystic fibrosis to obtain free prescriptions.
§ Mr. AlisonExemption is available on grounds of age or income. Where exemption cannot be claimed on these grounds the prepayment certificate is available for those who need frequent prescriptions.
§ 35. Mr. Horamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will exempt all retirement pensioners from paying prescription charges.
§ 50. Mr. Maclennanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider seeking powers to exempt women aged 60 years and over from the payment of prescription charges.
§ Mr. AlisonWe see no reason to alter the existing arrangements which exempt all aged 65 and over. Help is available to other retirement pensioners who cannot afford to pay prescription charges.
§ 52. Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now agree to propose exempting from prescription charges all children up to the age of 16 years who are attending school.
§ Mr. AlisonNo. No relationship is intended between the age limit for automatic exemption from prescription charges and the age of ending full-time education.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons pre-paid prescription charges on a six-monthly or on a twelve-monthly basis during each of the years for which this facility has been available; and what sums have been received by the National Health Service Executive Council during each of such periods as a result of the payment of such charges.
§ Mr. AlisonInformation is not available in the form requested. The available statistics are given in the following table.
72W
CERTIFICATES OF PREPAYMENT OF PRESCRIPTION CHARGES ISSUED IN ENGLAND Number of Certificates valid for Year 6 months 12 months Sums received for certificates £ 1968* 20,000 21,000 88,000 1969 46,000 35,000 165,000 1970 45,000 48,000 200,000 1971 47,000 123,000 517,000 * Prepayment certificates were introduced on 1st November 1968.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the percentage increase in revenue from prescription charges between the years 1969 and 1971.
§ Mr. AlisonIn England about 34 per cent.