§ Mr. Pendryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many families have been made ineligible for means-tested benefits by the increase in the child tax allowances in respect of free dental and optical care, free welfare milk and free medicines, respectively ; how many are eligible for cash benefits ; and how many are now claiming them.
§ Mr. DeanThe information sought in the first two parts of the Question cannot be reliably estimated. Details of the numbers claiming the benefits mentioned are as follows :
what proportion were returned when they expired.
§ Mr. AlisonThere is no provision for the issue of temporary National Health Service medical cards ; and ordinary medical cards are not issued to overseas visitors whose stay in this country is expected to be short.