Prescription Charges

HC Deb 16 February 1971 vol 811 cc395-6W

81. Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total amount collected in prescription charges last year, including pre-payment certificates, and the increase in the total cost of prescriptions over that of the previous year.

Mr. Alison

Over £18 million was collected in Great Britain in 1970. The gross cost of the Pharmaceutical Service rose by about £18½ million between 1969 and 1970.

82. Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received concerning the payment of prescription charges by persons suffering from Parkinson's disease; what reply he has sent; if he will now discuss with the British Medical Association the need to exempt such persons from the payment of these charges; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alison

We have received a number of representations. Our replies explain the grounds on which exemption is available, the difficulties of widening the range of chronic illnesses giving entitlement to exemption and the prepayment certificate arrangements. On the third part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 1st December to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden), and to the hon. Members for Islington, South-West (Mr. George Cunningham), and Halifax (Dr. Summerskill).—[Vol. 807, c.1062–3.]

Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many prescription charge refunds have been made during each month since June, 1968; and what percentage the figures for the month of January in the years 1969, 1970 and 1971 represent of the totals for unemployed men during those months.

Mr. Dean

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind refunds made to unemployed men at Employment Exchanges. Following are the details so far as they are available:

PRESCRIPTION CHARGE REFUNDS AT EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES
Month	Number of 2s.6d.charges refunded
1968—	June	…	…	18,000
	July	…	…	35;000
	August	…	…	42,000
	September	…	…	34,000
	October	…	…	40,000
	November	…	…	37,000
	December	…	…	33,000
1969—	January	…	…	43,000
	February	…	…	35,000
	March	…	…	38,000
	April	…	…	29,000
	May	…	…	36,000
	June	…	…	30,000
	July	…	…	29,000
	August	…	…	29,000
	September	…	…	26,000
	October	…	…	34,000
	November	…	…	27,000
	December	…	…	31,000
1970—	January	…	…	37,000
	February	…	…	29,000
	March	…	…	34,000
	April	…	…	31,000
	May	…	…	29,000
	June	…	…	25,000
	July	…	…	29,000
	August	…	…	23,000
	September	…	…	24,000
	October	…	…	30,000

Notes:

(1) The figures are for Great Britain.

(2) They represent the number of 2s. 6d. charges refunded. Details of the actual number of applications for refund are not available but these are estimated at rather more than half the number of charges.

Figures for January, 1971, are not yet available but the total number of charges refunded at Employment Exchanges in January, 1969 and January, 1970 represented 8.75 per cent. and 7 per cent. respectively, of the total numbers of men unemployed in those months.