HC Deb 01 April 1985 vol 76 cc492-3W
Mr. Craigen

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects that his Department's new Maryhill office at Gairbraid avenue will be fully operational; and what arrangements he has on hand for the disposal of the former planned site at Tamshill street.

Mr. Whitney

The new Glasgow (Maryhill) ILO is expected to be ready for operations by the end of 1985. The site at Tamshill street is being disposed of by the Property Services Agency.

Mr. Meadowcroft

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider extending the current automatic exemption from dental and optical charges for those aged under 19 years but still in full-time education to include automatic exemption from prescription charges.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

We have no plans to extend automatic exemption from prescription charges to young people aged 16 to 19 still in full-time education.

Above the age of 16 young people move to the general system of exemption. Young people aged 16 or over are therefore able to apply in their own right for exemption from prescription charges on low income grounds whether or not they are in full-time education and irrespective of their parents' circumstances. Many young people qualify for free prescriptions in this way.