§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of restoring free prescriptions to(a) all adults, (b) all those over the age of 65, (c) all those over the age of 60 and (d) all those over the age of 55 years; and if he will make a statement. [136482]
§ Ms StuartThe cost of restoring free prescriptions to all adults would be £380 million a year. The cost of restoring free prescriptions to all adults aged 55 and over is estimated to be £70 million a year. Those who are over the age of 60 are already exempt. These figures relate solely to the loss of patient charge revenue and make no allowance for any increase in the number of prescription items that might result from this change.