§ Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to increase benefits for pensioners and other groups on low incomes to assist them with the purchase of drugs which will no longer be available on National Health Service prescription after the introduction of limited list prescribing; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThere will be no need for this. My intention is that for all patients who need medicines of the kinds covered by my proposals, there will be a range of effective medicines available on the NHS.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what alternative methods of saving money on the National Health Service drugs bill he considered before introducing his proposals for a limited list.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeVarious methods of saving money on the National Health Service drugs bill, including generic substitution, were considered before we introduced our proposals for a limited list. No other scheme offered such immediate and worthwhile savings without damage to patient care.