HC Deb 06 December 1982 vol 33 cc385-6W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the additional annual cost of allowing free prescriptions for all those in receipt of invalidity benefit.

Mr. Rossi

A substantial number of recipients of invalidity benefits will be exempt from prescription charges on age, low income and other grounds. Although precise estimates are difficult, the annual cost of

Period of waiting
Hospital Age Under 1 Year 1–2 years Over 2 years Total
Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Total
Broadmoor 20 and under — — — — — — — — —
21–30 — 2 — 1 1 — 1 3 4
31–40 8 2 — — 1 — 9 2 11
41–50 2 1 1 — — — 3 1 4
51–60 4 — — — 3 — 7 — 7
Over 60 1 — — — — 1 1 1 2
Total 15 5 1 1 5 1 21 7 28
Rampton 20 and under — — — — — — — — —
21–30 5 1 2 1 4 6 11 8 19
31–40 10 4 16 4 9 7 35 15 50
41–50 4 2 9 2 3 2 16 6 22
51–60 2 — 1 — 7 1 10 1 11
Over 60 3 — 2 — 3 1 8 1 9
Total 24 7 30 7 26 17 80 31 111
Moss Side 20 and under 1 — — — — 1 1 1 2
exempting the remainder might be of the order of £5 million for Great Britain. I have no plans to extend the existing wide-ranging exemption arrangements to this group.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will examine the possibility of arranging rebates for charges made for prescriptions where a drug has subsequently to be prescribed to clear up allergic effects caused by drugs originally prescribed to the patient; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will examine the possibility of arranging rebates of charges in cases where a further prescription becomes necessary owing to the patient being found to be allergic to drugs previously prescribed for his condition; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

Any scheme that provided for the exchange without charge of one medicine for another or for the refund of prescription charges properly paid would be administratively complex and costly to operate. Given the wide-ranging exemption arrangements that already exist—some 69 per cent. of prescription items are dispensed free—we have no plans to introduce such a scheme.