§ Mr. HannamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total value of help given under the health benefits low income scheme per annum for the last three years for which figures are available.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThis information is not collected centrally. Under the scheme people receiving444W income support or family credit and their dependants are automatically exempt from NHS charges. Other claimants who are entitled to help towards the cost of meeting NHS charges are issued with a certificate authorising either full or partial exemption from any charges which they may incur. There is no limit on the number of occasions upon which a certificate may be used during the six-month period of its validity.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which organisations he is formally consulting on his review of the health benefits low income scheme.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe review will look in detail at the way in which the NHS low income scheme is currently administered. The report recently published by the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux—NACAB—is therefore particularly relevant to the review. Officials will be discussing with NACAB the matters that it has raised and its recommendations. There are no plans to consult formally with organisations other than NACAB, but any representations that are received will be considered as the review is taken forward.
§ Mr. HannamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the value of each claim under the health benefits low income scheme is taken up with administrative charges.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe information requested is not available.
During 1990–91, a total of 1,017,739 claims for help under the National Health Service low income scheme were received by the health benefits unit at Newcastle and 957,886 certificates of full or partial exemption were issued. The average cost of processing each claim was £7.65.
§ Mr. HannamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to publicise the existence of the health benefits low income scheme.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) Regulations 1986 require opticians to display prominently a notice showing possible entitlement to vouchers under the low income scheme. Dentists are required by their terms of service set out in the National Health Service (General Dental Services) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1990 to display prominently a notice, indicating National Health Service charges which are payable under general dental services and entitlement to exemption from and remission of National Health Service charges.
In addition to these obligatory requirements, posters promoting the low income scheme are available for display at citizens advice bureaux, general practitioners' surgeries, pharmacies and in hospital out-patient departments. Claim forms and explanatory leaflets are also readily available from these and a number of other outlets, including welfare rights organisations and local offices of the Social Security Benefits Agency. The adequacy of existing forms and leaflets and their provision in languages other than English will be considered as part of the review of the National Health Service low income scheme.