§ 29. Mr. Shurmerasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that old-age pensioners and many persons in fixed income groups who suffer from chronic ailments and who are needing more than one item of medicine, and not receiving National Assistance, were seriously affected by the increased charges for National Health prescriptions, and that the number of prescriptions has declined by over 30 per cent. to the detriment of these chronic sick; and what steps he will take to alleviate this hardship.
§ Mr. VosperI cannot accept the figure quoted by the hon. Member and I have no evidence that persons are being deprived of necessary medicines. The78W National Assistance Board will refund charges to any person whether or not he is in receipt of National Assistance, who can show that in paying them he will suffer hardship by the Board's standards.