§ 116. Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of families in receipt of, respectively, school clothing allowances, free dental treatment and free prescriptions on grounds of low income, but not in receipt of supplementary benefit or family income supplement, in May 1971, and in November 1971.
§ Mr. DeanSchool clothing allowances are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science but as these allowances are made at the discretion of local education authorities I understand no statistics are available centrally.
The following information is available about free dental treatment (including the provision of dentures) for persons with low incomes other than those receiving supplementary benefit or family income supplement:
Period Number of successful claims 9 weeks ended 22nd June 1971 20,100 (average 2,240 a week) 5 weeks ended 23rd November 1971 12,700 (average 2,540 a week) These figures do not distinguish between full and partial help with the payment of charges and may include claims from more than one member of the same family.
It cannot be said how many low income families have used their exemption certificates from payment of prescription charges during any particular period but based on the number of exemption certificates issued on low income grounds (the period of validity was increased from three to six months from 1st April, 1971) it is estimated that there were 32,000 valid certificates in issue in May, 1971, and 44,000 in November, 1971.