§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the income for (i) pharmacists, (ii) dentists and (iii) opticians from National Health Service charges for each year from 1978–79.
§ Mr. NewtonThe income from prescription charges collected by pharmacists and from patients' charges for general ophthalmic services for each year from 1978–79 is given in the table. There have been no charges to patients under the general ophthalmic service since National Health Service spectacles were discontinued from 1 July 1986.
For the income received from dental charges paid by patients in recent years I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms. Harman) today.
Year Income from prescription charges England £million Income from ophthalmic charges England £ million 1978–79 23.2 25.5 1979–80 36.9 27.6 1980–81 67.6 28.9 1981–82 82.7 32.3 1982–83 97.9 38.1 1983–84 104.7 43.8 1984–85 114.8 44.1 1985–86 120.7 11.8 1986–87 140.2 0.8