§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to extend eligibility for exemptions from paying prescription charges.
§ Mr. John Patten[pursuant to his reply, 19 November 1984, c. 68]: The existing exemption arrangements together with the prepayment certificate system ensure that no one need be deprived of necessary medication on financial grounds; some 72 per cent. of prescribed items are dispensed free of charge and a further 6 per cent. are dispensed to holders of pre-payment certificates. While we have sympathy for anyone with continuing prescription needs who does not qualify for exemption we have no proposals for change.