HC Deb 03 December 1956 vol 561 cc88-9W
79. Mr. Harold Davies

asked the Minister of Health why there was no consultation with the organised bodies of the chemist contractors before the new charges for prescriptions were made.

Mr. Turton

Government decisions that affect revenue have to be announced first to Parliament, and arrangements for consultations are necessarily subject to this limitation.

82. Mr. Paget

asked the Minister of Health what reply he proposes to make to a resolution passed unanimously and sent to him by the Northampton Executive Council under the National Health Act expressing disapproval of the Government's intention to increase the charges on doctors' prescriptions by the imposition of a 1s. charge for each item.

Mr. Turton

I am informing the Executive Council that the Government decided that the revised charges were necessary because of the present financial and economic situation, but that every effort is being and will be made to avoid hardship, and the working of the new arrangements will be closely watched with this in view.