HC Deb 05 May 1953 vol 515 cc17-8W
Mr. Hollis

asked the Minister of Works whether he will make a statement about the destruction of Manton Down barrow.

Mr. Eccles

The investigation into the damage to the barrow on Manton Down is not yet complete, but it is clear that it is not as serious as was feared. The stone burial chamber of this long barrow, dating from 2,000 B.C., survives, although the mound which enclosed it has been levelled.

A party of young visitors to the site, on 26th April, gave the first informa-

PRESCRIPTIONS
Number of prescriptions Average cost per prescription Total cost
January, 1952 21,115,5771 actual 46.51d. £4,092,083
February, 1952 21,189,421 47.27d. £4,173,386
March, 1952 20,758,051 47.12d. £4,075,277
January, 1953 23,764,0001 declared by chemists not yet available
February, 1953 21,635,000
March, 1953 21,131,000
These figures include prescriptions for appliances ordered by general practitioners and dispensed by chemists and prescriptions given by hospital out-patient departments and dispensed by chemists. No figures are available to show the number of prescriptions dispensed at hospitals to out-patients.
DENTAL TREATMENT
1952 1953
January (4 weeks) February (4 weeks) March (5 weeks) January (5 weeks) February (4 weeks) March (4 weeks)
Number of completed courses of dental treatment under normal procedure (other than for the provision of dentures to which the 1952 Act charges do not apply) [Note 1]. 457,000 402,000 552,000 521,000 382,000 390,000
Number of courses for limited treatment provided under simplified procedure [Note2]. 244,000 216,000 310,000 166,000 126,000 133,000
Cost to the Exchequer £1,200,000 £1,100,000 £1,500,000 £1,100,000 £800,000 £850,000
1. Less than half the courses given were subject to charges under the 1952 Act. The remaining courses were started before 1st June or were for items of treatment to which the charges do not apply or were for the exempted classes of patients.
2. The courses for limited treatment, which consist largely of extractions of one or two teeth, usually cost under £1 and many patients may, therefore, be assumed to have had the treatment privately.

tion of the deplorable occurrence. One of my Inspectors of Ancient Monuments went at once to the barrow and when I have a full report I will consider what action should be taken.