§ 79. Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the average increase of annual cost to the patient of his proposals to revise prescription and dental charges.
§ Sir K. JosephFor prescription charges there will be no increase for over 40 per cent. of the population, who are exempt from payment. For those liable to pay, the likely average additional annual cost is estimated to be rather less than 40p.
In relation to dental charges, the figure requested would have little meaning; but if the new system of charges had been in force in 1969, 11.75 million courses would have been free of charge, 3.18 million would have attracted a charge of £1.30 or less, 1.71 million a charge of between £1.30 and £2.40 compared with the charges of up to £1.50 to which these 4.89 million courses would then have been liable; and 3.5 million a charge of between £2.40 and the new maximum of £10, compared for about half of them with a charge of £1.50 and for the other half of charges varying between £2.80 and £6.25.