§ Mr. David Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to be in a position to judge the effect of prescription charges on the pattern of prescribing.
§ Mr. AlisonIncreases in the proportion of exempt patients and developments in unquantifiable therapeutic factors continue to prevent the measurement of any marginal influence which charges may have on the pattern of prescribing, but there is no evidence that they have an effect on necessary treatment.
§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of prescriptions with charges and exemptions, respectively, for 1970, 1971 and 1972.
§ Mr. AlisonThe number of prescriptions in England were as follows:
Chargeable Prescriptions (Millions) Exempt Prescriptions (Millions) 1970 115 133 1971 106 141 1972 106 150