§ Mr. Mackintoshasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what he estimates, at the latest convenient date, to be the numbers of people entitled to benefit, the numbers actually drawing the benefit, where appropriate on an average frequency, at the same basis date, and the percentage that recipients form of those entitled, in respect of free welfare milk, free vitamin tablets and orange juice, the refund of prescription charges, the refund of dental charges and the refund of hospital fares.
§ Mr. AlisonReliable complete estimates of the numbers entitled to these benefits are not possible because of the many variable factors involved.
The estimated number of persons in Great Britain who were in receipt of tokens for free welfare milk in October, 1971, was about 590,000 and I estimate that of these about 440,000 were also entitled to tokens for free vitamin preparations (vitamin tablets for mothers, children's vitamin drops and orange juice) but the number who have taken advantage of this provision cannot be estimated.
On prescription charges I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Miss Lestor) on 26th October and my reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 9th December.
There were 36,000 payments of supplementary benefit in respect of dental charges in the four weeks ended 19th October, 1971.
I regret that information about refunds of hospital fares is not available.—[Vol. 823, c. 296; Vol. 872, c. 375–6.]