§ 13. Mrs. Cullenasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the number and amount of National Health Service prescription charges refunded by the National Assistance Board in Glasgow to persons not in receipt of National Assistance supplementation during each of the past three years.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithAs I have already explained, figures can be given only for 1959 and 1960. They are, for an area approximating to the City of Glasgow, respectively £580 and £450, representing 11,600 and 9,000 prescription items.
14. Mr. J. Hillasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the number and amount of National Health Service prescription charges refunded by the National Assistance Board in Midlothian to persons not in receipt of National Assistance supplementation during each of the past three
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithAs I have already explained, figures can be given only for 1959 and 1960. They are, for an area approximating to Midlothian, respectively £360 and £320, representing 7,200 and 6,400 prescription items.
§ 24. Mr. George Craddockasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the number and amount of National Health Service prescription charges refunded by the 2W National Assistance Board in Bradford to persons not in receipt of National Assistance supplementation during each of the past three years.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithAs I have already explained, figures can be given only for 1959 and 1960. They are, for an area approximating to the City of Bradford, respectively, £160 and £140, representing 3,200 and 2,800 prescription items.
§ 25. Mr. Timmonsasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what was the number and amount of National Health Service prescription charges refunded by the National Assistance Board in Lanarkshire to persons not in receipt of National Assistance supplementation during each of the past three years.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithAs I have already explained, figures can be given only for 1959 and 1960. They are, for an area approximating to Lanarkshire, respectively £160 and £70, representing 3,200 and 1,400 prescription items.
§ 26. Mr. W. Hamiltonasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, what number of applications to the National Assistance Board in Fife over each of the past four years for refund of National Health Service charges for prescriptions was refused.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithIn an area approximating to the County of Fifeshire, 42, 25, 22 and 20 respectively.
§ 27. Mr. W. Hamiltonasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what number of applications to the National Assistance Board in Edinburgh and Glasgow respectively, over each year since 1955 for the refund of National Health Service prescription charges was refused and how many were accepted.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithIt is not possible to give figures of the number of refunds made in particular localities, as complete records are not kept by locality for the refunds made at post offices, which are the very great majority.
The numbers of unsuccessful applications for refunds of prescription charges in areas approximating to the Cities of 3W Edinburgh and Glasgow in the past six years were as follows:
— 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 Edinburgh 6 5 29 25 28 30 Glasgow 7 3 27 64 37 28
35. Mr. SydneyIrving asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many people in the Dartford area not in receipt of National Assistance were given refunds of prescription charges in each of the last three years.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithThe records available do not indicate the number of persons, not already receiving regular weekly National Assistance grants, to whom refunds of prescription charges have been made. It is, however, possible to give for this area the total amounts paid to such persons in the last three years. They are respectively £40, £40 and £10, representing respectively 800. 800 and 200 prescription items.
§ Mr. Houghtonasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, what precise test is applied for the refund of prescription charges in cases where application for refund is made on grounds of hardship by persons not currently in receipt of a National Assistance allowance.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance who will be entitled to National Assistance refunds of prescription charges, apart from those already in receipt of National Assistance.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterApart from war pensioners who, whatever their resources, can obtain a refund in respect of medicines, etc. prescribed for their accepted war disabilities, a person to be eligible for refund of prescription charges has to satisfy the Board that after paying the charge or any part of it he would be left with insufficient resources to maintain himself and his dependants on the standards laid down by the National Assistance Regulations.
§ Mr. Hannanasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what consultations he has had with the Minister of Health on devising methods whereby an insured person in receipt of sickness 4W benefit is enabled to obtain National Health Service prescriptions free of charge and without means test.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave at Question Time today to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Sydney Irving) and to the hon. Member for Dunbartonshire, East (Mr. Bence)
§ Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what proportion of applications in Scotland to the National Assistance Board for refund of National Health Service prescription charges over each of the past three years was refused.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithAs my right hon. Friend explained in answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Craigton (Mr. Millan), it is not possible to give this information precisely in the form in which it is asked. But I can state that the total amounts refunded by the National Assistance Board in Scotland were £63,000 representing about 11 million prescription items in 1958, £68,000 representing approximately the same number in 1959, and £79,000 representing over 11 million in 1960 The numbers of applications rejected were respectively 209. 171 and 138.
§ Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance for the most recent convenient period in respect of the City of Dundee, how many applications to the National Assistance Board for refund of National Health Service prescriptions were granted; and how many of these were in respect of those already in receipt of National Assistance grants.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithAs I made clear in my answer today to the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. W. Hamilton), it is not possible to give these figures in respect of any particular area.