§ Mrs. Doris Fisherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the latest percentage take-up figures for free welfare food, free prescriptions, free optical care and free dental care, respectively.
§ Mr. AlisonEstimating entitlement to these benefits is very difficult because of the many variable factors involved.
The estimated number of persons in Great Britain who were in receipt of tokens for free welfare milk in November, 1971, was 600,000 and we estimate that of these about 440,000 were also entitled to tokens for free vitamin preparations.
Well over half of all National Health Service prescriptions are dispensed without charge. From this and all the available indications we are confident that the vast majority of the 23 million people in Great Britain who are exempt on grounds of age or because an exemption document has been issued to them declare their entitlement when they get a prescription form.
The number of pairs of glasses supplied to children in Great Britain in 1971
At 31st December At 31st March Year Private Authority Day Nurseries Places Private Nurseries providing Full Day Care Places Children Privately Fostered 1966 … … … 2 90 Not available Not available 95 1967 … … … 2 90 Not available Not available 81 1968 … … … 2 90 3 68 109 1969 … … … 2 90 3 68 114 1970 … … … 2 90 4 85 123