§ Mr. Aspinwallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are now taking advantage of prescription season tickets compared to one year ago; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungI welcome the opportunity of drawing attention to the increasing use being made of the prepayment certificates—"season tickets". The following table gives details of the prepayment certificates purchased in each of the last three years and shows an increase over that period of 166 per cent.
Period Number of Prepayment Certificates purchased covering Total 6 months 4 months 12 months 1978 32,800 — 195,640 228,440 1979 41,831 — 342,238 384,069 1980 15,069 58,084 533,646 606,799 At the end of 1980, more than 5 per cent. of all prescriptions dispensed were to holders of season tickets—this is in addition to the 67 per cent. dispensed free under the exemption arrangements. These season tickets are a very good buy for any one who requires a lot of medicines and is not entitled to exemption. They mean that no-one need pay more than £15 (the cost of an annual certificate) per year for the medicines they need.