§ Mr. Murphyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on Government policy regarding the provision of free prescriptions for contraceptives.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe Government consider that family planning is an important preventive service which contributes to better maternal and child health and the stability of family life. We take the view that in many cases free prescriptions for contraceptives encourage use of the service by those who would benefit and might otherwise be deterred. The policy of having a free family planning service has been followed by successive Governments and endorsed by Parliament for the past 10 years.