§ 45. Mr. Arnold Shawasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many season tickets have been taken out in the first two months of the service by chronically sick patients who are not exempt from prescription charges.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe total number of prepayment certificates so far issued in England and Wales was about 44,000.
§ 48. Mr. J. E. B. Hillasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether 207W he will extend the exemption from prescription charges in the case of mentally handicapped children until their 16th birthday.
§ Mr. EnnalsNo. I think we should rest on the existing exemption arrangements.
§ 52. Mr. Grieveasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will include persons suffering from glaucoma in the category of persons entitled in respect of their conditions to exemption from prescription charges.
§ 53. Mr. George Jegerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he now has to extend the list of illnesses entitling people to be treated as chronically sick and so exempted from prescription charges; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EnnalsWe have no proposals for adding to the list of specified medical conditions; but the pre-payment certificate is designed to help patients not otherwise entitled to exemption or refunds who require frequent prescriptions.
§ 67. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he is aware that a school child of 15 years of age, details of whom have been sent to him, who has a fortnightly treatment for asthma and an annual injection, is compelled to pay prescription charges; and whether he will seek to amend the regulations so that children who are legally compelled to stay at school are freed from prescription charges;
(2) whether he will take steps to exempt all school children from having to pay the medical prescription charge.
§ Mr. EnnalsI am writing to my hon. Friend about the personal case. I do not consider that extension of the present exemption arrangements would be justified.
§ 69. Sir Clive Bossomasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why cystic fibrosis was not included in the diseases for exemption from prescription charges for persons 15 years of age and over.
§ Mr. EnnalsBecause the representatives of the medical profession did not208W feel that doctors could accept responsibility of identifying other conditions than those specified in the list which has been published.