§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what her Department is doing to draw attention to the NHS low-income health benefits scheme;
(2) whether a survey has been conducted to determine how many general practitioners know about the NHS low-income health benefits scheme;
(3) what measures she is taking to ensure that all general practitioners are informed of the NHS low-income health benefits scheme.
§ Dr. MawhinneyExplanatory leaflets about the national health service low-income scheme are freely available to the public from post offices, doctors and dentists' surgeries, hospital out-patient departments, opticians and offices of the social security Benefits Agency. Information about the low-income scheme can also be found in leaflets about social security benefits published by the Benefits Agency. All general practitioners are informed of the scheme by means of circulars issued to them through family health services authorities. These circulars also draw general practitioners' attention to the availability of leaflets and posters about the scheme and ask them to display these prominently. In view of the wide availability of information, no survey has been deemed necessary.