§ 19. Mr. Smallasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state the cost of the remission of prescription charges by the National Assistance Board from the inception of the new charges till the latest available date, and the figure for the same period in the previous year.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterUp to the end of November, 1961, the amount paid by the National Assistance Board for refunds of prescription charges was £1,741,000. The figure for the comparable period of 1960 was £799,000.
§ Mr. Gourlayasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many claims for refund of National Health prescription charges were admitted, and what was the total amount repaid, by his Kirkcaldy office for the period from 1st April, 1961, to the latest convenient date, and for the corresponding period from 1st April, 1960.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterDuring the period April, 1960, to January, 1961, 173 claims for repayment of prescription charges, amounting in all to £45 were paid by the Kirkcaldy office of the National Assistance Board. For the period April, 1961, to January, 1962, 5W the corresponding figures were 842 claims totalling £280. These figures relate, as requested in the hon. Member's Question, to payments made at the Board's office. They do not, therefore, include those made at post offices in accordance with the normal practice in the case of people holding National Assistance order-books. Figures for such payments are not available on a local basis.