§ 124. Mr. L. Jegerasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many applications have been made by people not normally in receipt of National Assistance for prescription charge refunds since the new charges began; how many have so far been allowed; and what is the cost involved.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterPrecise figures are not available as some bulk refunds in respect of residents in local authority accommodation will include persons not otherwise receiving assistance. Apart from these, the National Assistance Board informs me that in a period of eight weeks beginning 28th November, 1956, 17W which was a few days before the revised charges came into operation, approximately 4,700 applications for refunds were received in respect of persons not receiving National Assistance allowances and that just over 3,000 refunds totalling about £880 were made.