§ Mr. Mappasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many National Health Service prescription charges and for how much, in total, over a typical winter period, in the Oldham area were remitted on application to people receiving supplementary assistance, and to those not receiving supplementary assistance, respectively; and what estimates he has made of the remissions when the new charges are operative.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithIt is not possible to give the figures asked for in respect of persons already receiving a weekly National Assistance grant, as complete records are not kept by locality for the immediate refunds at post offices, which are the very great majority. As regards other persons, it is estimated that in the six months October, 1959, to March. 1960, grants in respect of prescription charges in an area approximating to the county borough of Oldham amounted to about £100 representing about 2,000 prescription items. Some increase in the number of applications for refunds may be expected.