§ Mr. Milneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many clerical grade officers and senior officers are employed by the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Executive Council and the area covered by the Blyth constituency to check the entitlement to exemptions from prescription 206W charges and at what annual cost; how many prescriptions were checked between September, 1968, and January, 1969; how many patients were found not to have been entitled to exemption; and what was the total amount recovered.
§ Mr. CrossmanFor the area covered by Newcastle-upon-Tyne Executive Council, in terms of whole-time equivalents, 0.3 clerical officers and 0.1 senior officers, at an annual cost of about £350. Checks were completed on nearly 2,000 forms; and 33 patients were found not to have been entitled to exemption. The total amount recovered was £5 15s.
Separate information relating to the area of the Blyth constituency is not available.