HC Deb 21 December 1971 vol 828 cc273-4W
35. Mr. William Price

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much revenue he expects from prescription charges in 1971.

Mr. Alison

About £20 million in England.

76. Mrs. Doris Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to simplify the administration for entitlement to free prescriptions by linking them with the receipt of National Insurance retirement pensions.

Mr. Alison

I would refer the hon Member to my reply on 1st December to the hon. Member for Manchester, Openshaw (Mr. Charles R. Morris). Anyone who is aged 65 or over can obtain his prescriptions without charge by filling in the declaration on the back of the prescription form, and anyone under 65 who cannot afford to pay the charge need only complete a simple claim form for an exemption certificate.—[Vol. 827, c.193.]

Mr. Tebbit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people hold season tickets for prescription charges; to what extent the number has changed since June, 1970; and if he will arrange for further publicity to be given to this scheme.

Sir K. Joseph

I am glad to announce that following increased publicity about 170,000 people in Great Britain now hold season tickets—an increase of about 100,000 since June, 1970. I am anxious to make this method of limiting the personal cost of prescriptions familiar to all so I propose to arrange for a further national advertising campaign early in the New Year.